Zara Found In Drain Unconscious With Bloody Neck Guard Says

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A security guard told the Coroner’s Court in Kota Kinabalu today that she found the late Zara Qairina Mahathir lying on her back in a drain, unconscious, and with her neck bleeding, at about 3am on July 16.
Linah Mansoding @ Jaliha, 65, who has served at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar since July 1, 2012, said that on the day of the incident, at about 2am, she was patrolling the female hostel at Rabiatul Adawiyah Block and found no unusual incidents.
“I then proceeded to the adjacent hostel block, namely Sumayyah Block, which is also a female hostel, to continue my patrol,” said the mother of four, who was on duty from 8pm, July 15, until 8am, July 16.
According to Linah, at around 3am, while she was at Sumayyah Block, she was informed by a student that a female student had fainted in the drain near Rabiatul Adawiyah Block.
The witness said this while reading her statement before coroner judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan on the fifth day of the inquest proceedings into the teenager’s death.
“I immediately rushed to the hostel and found a female student known as Zara lying on her back in the hostel drain unconscious,” said the elderly woman.
According to the sixth witness, she then promptly contacted the head warden of the hostel, Azhari Abd Sagap, and informed him of the incident, before taking a picture of the victim lying in the drain.
“After ustaz Azhari arrived at the scene, he immediately contacted the hospital, and an ambulance arrived at about 4am. The student was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment,” Linah said.
The woman also confirmed that there were no CCTV cameras installed at the hostel block, and no grilles fitted along the hostel building corridors.
Familiar with students
When questioned by deputy public prosecutor Fairuz Johari, the witness said the picture of the victim, which she had taken using her mobile phone, was sent to four teachers and the head warden via WhatsApp.
She said the phone was later taken by the police at the end of July to assist in the investigation.
During questioning by lawyer Shahlan Jufri, who is representing Zara’s family, the witness stated that she recognised the victim as Zara because she was already familiar with the students there.
Shahlan: Earlier, you said a student informed you about the incident. Can you tell us what she said?
Linah: The student said, ‘Aunty, aunty, there’s a girl who fainted… I went closer, but I didn’t want to touch (the victim)… I was scared… she was unconscious but still breathing.’
She said all the students in the hostel were still asleep at the time of the incident.
[More to follow] - Mkini

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