Witness Zara Deeply Upset After Being Called By Senior

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KOTA KINABALU (Oct 30): A witness told the Coroner’s Court here today that throughout knowing the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, she had never seen Zara experience emotional distress like on the night of July 15.
Deponent number 35, who is also child witness number 26, testified that before seeing Zara in distress, she heard a senior student’s voice calling out, “Zara, come here.” The witness confirmed it was a senior’s voice, saying none of her batchmates sounded that way.
According to a summary witness statement issued by the legal team for Zara’s mother, a junior student from Zara’s dorm had asked the witness to observe whether Zara would be called to the room next door.
“The witness said she saw Zara returning to her dorm but did not have time to enter because she was called by a senior to the neighbouring dorm,” the counsel said.
“Around 11pm, Zara returned to the dorm room in an emotional state, crying and shouting, ‘I didn’t steal it,’” the lawyer added.
The counsel further explained that before 10pm that night, some junior students had already suspected Zara of stealing a bank card belonging to another junior.
“According to the witness, she and several dorm members planned to conduct a spot check on Zara’s belongings. About six students, including the witness, were involved. Preparations were made that night to find the missing bank card,” the counsel said.
While Zara was in the dorm next door, the witness and others carried out the spot check on Zara’s bag, locker and pants.
“The witness said she first checked Zara’s locker and found nothing, while three others searched her bag. One dorm member later checked Zara’s pants pockets,” the counsel added.
“As a result, two Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag) pins were found — one in her bag and another in her pocket.”
The statement continued that a junior student later found a torn page from an exercise book on Zara’s bed, believed to be a personal letter. The contents were unknown.
“The witness was also informed that another junior student had lost RM21 in cash and claimed to have seen that amount in Zara’s wallet,” the counsel said.
The witness also admitted to finding Zara’s old, torn diary in a trash can, which was handed over to a teacher.
“The witness confirmed that teachers and dormitory supervisors later packed Zara’s belongings after her passing,” the counsel added.
Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, here on July 17, after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at 4 am on July 16.
The inquest proceedings before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan continue on Nov 5. - Borneo Post

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