Zara likely had 20-30 injuries

Daily Express

5 days ago

Published on: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Published on: Wed, Aug 13, 2025 Text Size: Pro-bono family lawyer Shahlan Jufri was called in every time they confirmed an injury, whereby the specialists gave their views and explanation on each injury. Kota Kinabalu: At least 20 to 30 injuries were possibly detected by pathologists doing last Sunday's post-mortem on Form 1 student Zara Qairina Mahathir, according to a Daily Express observation outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, here, where it was conducted. Our reporter painstakingly recorded each time the family lawyer holding a watching brief during the autopsy rushed into the room. Pro-bono family lawyer Shahlan Jufri was called in every time they confirmed an injury, whereby the specialists gave their views and explanation on each injury. 'Every injury was looked at and assessed,' he said, adding that he took note of the injuries that were highlighted by Dr Jessie Hui (Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1) and forensic pathology consultant Dr Khairul Anuar Zainun from Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang, Selangor. The team who worked non-stop for eight hours checked her remains thoroughly for all kinds of injuries, especially those she may have sustained due to alleged bullying. Shahlan said each injury was evaluated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and he was briefed on the nature of the injuries. However, he declined to reveal anything, saying it is up to the authorities. "I witnessed the post-mortem process right to the end as the pathologist checked through every part of the body including internal organs,' he said. Zara was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory from an apparent fall from the third floor of her hostel in Papar district on July 16. She died the next day at the QEH and buried at her hometown in Sipitang. However, there were doubts over the circumstances leading to her death with questions raised about the possibility of her being a victim of school bullying. Her mother Noraidah Lamat, 45, subsequently through her lawyers raised questions about the thoroughness of the police investigation as no autopsy was carried out. Subsequently, the Attorney-General's Chambers told the police to exhume the body so that a post-mortem could be carried out. Shahlan said the autopsy was done in a transparent manner with no interference by any quarter. Shahlan together with legal partner Hamid Ismail were appointed by Noraidah to represent the family. He said the autopsy report was not a public document but would be revealed in court if an inquest was held. For an inquest to held, a Special Coroner's Court would establish facts that led to a sudden death that remained unexplained. A coroner has to decide whether there is a criminal element in the case of the death. The last time a Coroner's inquest based on popular public interest was held was in 1979 to establish how the 11 people on board the Nomad plane, including then chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens, met their deaths on June 6, 1976. The inquest in that case was only held three years later because nobody volunteered to head the inquest, saying it was a 'hot potato' until a young magistrate then, Datuk Ansari Abdullah took up the challenge. A Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department task force has been formed to take over the investigation into Zara Qairina's death. Inspector-General of Police secretariat (corporate communication) said the task force consisting of nine officers and personnel had been deployed to Sabah. 'The task force is part of the police's commitment to ensure the investigation is conducted transparently and thoroughly,' the secretariat said. The remains of Zara, 13, were reburied at the Tanjung Ubi Islamic cemetery in Kg Mesapol in Sipitang following the autopsy. * 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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