Findings point to a fall: Criminal elements, including bullying, not ruled out
Published on: Thu, Aug 14, 2025 Text Size: Kumar said the post-mortem confirmed that Zara Qairina died from severe brain injury due to a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain caused by a fall, consistent with the initial diagnosis. Kuala Lumpur: The preliminary findings of the investigation into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir tally with the initial diagnosis of her cause of death, which are injuries sustained from a fall, say police. CID Director Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the findings had been explained to Zara's family and lawyer. 'At the time of the initial diagnosis, the doctor stated that death was due to severe traumatic brain injuries with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy,' he said at a press conference, Wednesday (Aug 13). 'All injuries found during the post-mortem examination were explained to the mother, with a lawyer present. The injuries are consistent with previous findings and were sustained in a fall,' said Kumar. Zara Qairina's mother Noraidah Lamat had earlier filed a police report after finding bruises on her daughter's body during ritual bathing. The investigation into the death of the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha student in Papar, Sabah, will now focus on possible criminal elements, including bullying. At a press conference here today, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar said this was among the findings of a special CID team comprising nine officers and personnel sent to Sabah on Aug 11 to probe the case. The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) announced its decision to conduct an inquest into Zara Qairina's death after reviewing the investigation report submitted by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). The inquest will be carried out under subsection 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593) to establish the cause and circumstances surrounding her death. Kumar said the post-mortem confirmed that Zara Qairina died from severe brain injury due to a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain caused by a fall, consistent with the initial diagnosis. So far, police have taken statements from 82 witnesses, including students, with some recalled for further questioning to establish what had happened before the fall. 'Police have also provided psychological intervention for 124 SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha students identified as traumatised by the incident, to help restore their confidence. Kumar also stressed there were no elements of a 'cover-up' in the investigation. He said the police are also probing the spread of false news on social media about the case, including allegations that the victim was put in a washing machine, to which a 39-year-old woman was arrested in Rawang under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Section 323 of the Penal Code. 'To date, 15 investigation papers have been opened related to the spread of unverified information that could disrupt public order and the investigation process,' he said. On Aug 8, the AGC said Zara Qairina's grave needed to be exhumed for a post-mortem to allow further investigation. On Aug 9, her remains were exhumed from the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Mesapol, Sipitang, and taken to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital for the post-mortem before being reburied at the same cemetery on Aug 12. The 13-year-old was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school's dormitory at about 4 am on July 16. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Retiree loses over RM460,000 in investment and legal service scams
JOHOR BARU: A retired teacher was not only deceived by a non-existent investment scheme, but the elderly woman also fell victim to a legal service scam, resulting in losses amounting to RM467,237. Johor Baru Selatan district police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said police received a report from the 60-year-old woman today. He said the victim stated that the incident began on June 17 after she saw an investment advertisement on Facebook while at her home in Ulu Tiram. "The investment promised extraordinary returns of up to 94 per cent within a day. "Enticed by the lucrative offer, the victim contacted the phone number displayed and was then added to a WhatsApp group that supposedly provided guidance on stock trading. "Over nine days between June 17 and 26, the victim made 20 transactions totalling RM286,337 into several bank accounts belonging to different local individuals. "However, every time the victim attempted to withdraw her profits, the suspect gave various excuses and requested additional payments, until the victim realised she had been deceived," he said in a statement here yesterday. Raub said the victim later sought legal services to help recover the funds, after coming across another advertisement on Facebook. He said the victim then contacted an individual who claimed to represent a law firm and was added to another WhatsApp group. "The victim was taught how to recover her money but was asked to make payments for legal matters. "Between July 4 and Aug 2, the victim made seven transactions amounting to RM180,900 into seven different accounts as payment for the legal process. "The victim continued to be asked for more payments until she realised she was being scammed. "Police checks found that the 23 accounts involved had a total of 24 prior fraud records," he said. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Akmal now under probe over viral video posting
PETALING JAYA: Police are investigating Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over a video that is alleged to have hate content. Penang police chief Comm Datuk Azizee Ismail said Bukit Mertajam police received a report on Aug 12 regarding a video that went viral on Facebook under the account name 'Akmal Salleh'. 'In the video, Akmal is said to have made a statement that could be categorised as hate content, which has the potential to cause unrest among the community and disrupt public peace,' he said in a statement yesterday. Comm Azizee added that police have initiated an investigation under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 506 of the Penal Code. He said the initial investigation was conducted by Penang police, but the case was taken over by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department yesterday. To date, two reports have been lodged over the matter in Penang. Dr Muhamad Akmal has also been summoned by the police to have his statement recorded over a demonstration in Kepala Batas, Penang. In a Facebook post, he said an investigating officer from Bukit Aman had contacted him to request that he provide his statement at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters. On Thursday, Dr Muhamad Akmal led a group, which consisted of Umno Youth and Bersatu members, among others, in a march over an incident in which a Jalur Gemilang was displayed upside down at a hardware store. The demonstration passed without major incident, except for a brief war of words between the group and representatives from Lawyers for Liberty.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Cabinet enforces clear anti-bullying measures after Zara Qairina's death
PUTRAJAYA: The government is standardising the enforcement of Sections 507B to 507G of the Penal Code to make clear to all quarters that bullying is a crime, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil (pic). He said the move is part of efforts to enforce newly amended anti-bullying laws and reflects Putrajaya's zero-tolerance stance on abuse. The matter was discussed at yesterday's Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, following the high-profile death of a 13-year-old boarding school student in Sabah. 'The Prime Minister conveyed a firm view that the government will not allow such bullying behaviour to persist. 'Among the measures being coordinated by ministers is the implementation of the amended provisions, which took effect in July, and define bullying, including cyberbullying, as a criminal offence. 'We want to ensure all ministries, especially those managing educational institutions, such as boarding schools, understand and follow through with enforcement,' Fahmi told reporters after attending the 20th Civil Service Premier Assembly here yesterday. The Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2025 and the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act 2025, aimed at tackling bullying more effectively, were passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 10 and in the Dewan Negara on Dec 16 last year. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is also expected to address several cases in his ministerial statement in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, including the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir and the attack on the son of former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli. Zara Qairina was found unconscious near her dormitory at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, Sabah, on July 16 and died the next day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu. Although police initially classified the case as sudden death, public concern over possible bullying prompted the Attorney General's Chambers to order an exhumation and inquest. Investigations are ongoing, with Bukit Aman's Integrity and Standards Compliance Department also looking into possible procedural lapses by police and school supervisors. In the separate incident, Rafizi said two men on a motorcycle tailed his wife's car before one attacked his son with a syringe at a shopping mall in Putrajaya. He said he believes the attack was premeditated.
