Seven Form 1 students searched Zara's locker on their own accord, says witness

 By Olivia Miwil

September 18, 2025 @ 12:15pm

SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha chief warden Azhari Abd Sagap told the Coroner's Court today that senior students did not instruct the juniors to search the late Zara Qairina Mahathir's locker. - NSTP/MOHD ADAM ARININ

KOTA KINABALU: SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha chief warden Azhari Abd Sagap told the Coroner's Court today that senior students did not instruct the juniors to search the late Zara Qairina Mahathir's locker.

The eighth witness in the inquest said the search of Zara Qairina's locker took place after the 13-year-old was called and questioned by seniors over a missing wallet belonging to a student.

"(However), those who searched the bag and locker, did it on their own accord. They did not do so under instructions from their seniors.

"This is based on what was told by a student," Azhari said, adding the search party comprised seven Form 1 students from the same dorm at the school.

The 31-year-old warden said apart from the seven, five other students, who were Zara Qairina's seniors, questioned her on the night of July 15.

"Form 1 students from another room had witnessed Zara being questioned by seniors."

The warden, however, was not aware if student "A" was involved when Zara Qairina was questioned by seniors.

The court heard earlier that "A" was the student who reported about her missing wallet to security guard Linah Mansoding. Student A was also one of the five child suspects who was charged in the Zara Qairina case.

Azhari said he was not aware of student A's whereabouts when Zara Qairina was questioned by her seniors.

Shahlan Jufri, a lawyer representing Zara Qairina's family, asked Azhari that when Zara was questioned by the seniors, was that considered a "MA" (Mesyuarat Asrama)?

Azhari: What I understood was that the seniors were conducting their own investigations into the theft.

The witness confirmed that there were two wallets missing on July 15 when Shahlan examined him.

Azhari said he knew about it on July 16 morning through a chat with student A's mother who asked for thorough investigation after her daughter lost her belongings for the second time.

Shahlan: Did the school question student A?

Azhari: Yes. The school asked her what did she lose. Based on the schhol's investigation, student A's IC was found with one of the teachers, as A was at a hockey tournament during the incident.

Azhari: However, the money and bank card could not be found.

Original article could be found here