rt By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU:The late Zara Qairina Mahathir was called several times by seniors before July 15, 2025, a day before she was found unconscious beneath her school hostel building, a child witness testified.
Appearing before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, a senior student at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha said after being called and questioned by seniors, the 13-year-old Zara Qairina appeared sad, disappointed and stressed.
"She had seen Zara Qairina two to three times in her room and had apologised to her on behalf of the seniors in the Circle 19 group. The witness said she would usually meet her after she was questioned by students from Circle 19.
"She also apologised to Zara Qairina because she felt sorry for her," lawyers representing Zara Qairina's family said in a statement, adding that the student testified she had experienced similar treatment when she was a junior.
Previous witnesses had told the Coroner's Court that Circle 19 referred to a group comprising 19 senior students.
The witness, who lived in the same dormitory block as Zara Qairina, also said she consoled other juniors who were also called and questioned by seniors.
The Coroner's Court was told that the witness learned from others that Zara Qairina had been called between 10pm and 11pm on July 15, and at the same time, her belongings were ransacked where they found a school pin belonging to another student.
At the time she was questioned, the witness passed by the dormitory and saw an angry junior hurling derogatory remarks over the theft.
"The witness also testified that she heard from others that Zara Qairina had locked herself in the toilet that night, but she did not know the exact time it happened.
"At around 3.50am (on July 16), the witness was awakened by another student who said someone had been found unconscious and was being carried to the end of the dormitory while waiting for an ambulance.
"She later found out that the student was Zara Qairina. On the morning of July 16, she attended a school activity and only learned in the evening that Zara was in critical condition."
Meanwhile, lawyer Joan Goh said the witness testified that it was a senior's responsibility to assist juniors in theft cases.
"When asked why a complaint was not made to the wardens or teachers regarding the theft on July 15, she said she was focused on her hockey competition scheduled for the following day," said Goh, who is representing one of the children charged in Zara Qairina's case.
The senior, who was the 20th witness, concluded the 21st day of Zara Qairina's inquest today (Monday).
The inquest will resume tomorrow (Tuesday).
The original article was posted here
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