'Zara Qairina's family may seek inquest after police probe'
Published on: Sun, Aug 10, 2025
By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Shahlan speaking to reporters and members of the public outside the Forensic Department building. - Pic by Jonathan Nicholas | Daily Express KOTA KINABALU: The post-mortem on 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir was conducted transparently and will be presented in court if an inquest is held, said family lawyer Shahlan Jufri on Sunday. He said the family is likely to request an inquest once police investigations are complete.
Advertisement No VIPs entered the examination room, with only doctors and police officers present, countering rumours from members of the public outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Forensic Department. The medical team expressed surprise at the preserved condition of Zara's body, and briefed the family immediately after the procedure. The examination lasted from 11.30am to 7.30pm without breaks, led by forensic pathology specialist Dr Khairul Anuar Zainun from Hospital Serdang. Shahlan and fellow lawyer Hamid Ismail took turns observing the process, while Zara's mother and siblings waited nearby.
Advertisement Hamid thanked the forensic team for their dedication, noting they remained on their feet throughout and documented both old and recent injuries. He said the preliminary report may be ready within a week, with the full process potentially taking up to two months. The body was returned to Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Sipitang for reburial the same evening, following its exhumation the day before under a court order for a second post-mortem. Zara died on July 17 in circumstances her family believes are linked to bullying, a case that has drawn public attention and calls for accountability in Sabah. * 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.
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