Kota Kinabalu Coroner's Court sets September inquest dates for Zara Qairina's death
KOTA KINABALU (Aug 18): A Coroner's Court here today fixed several dates in September to hear an inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, to determine whether any criminal elements were involved.
Sabah State Court director Azreena Aziz, presiding as a coroner, reserved Sept 3-4, 8-12, 17-19 and 22-30 for the hearing.
Today was the first mention of the inquest.
In a statement on Aug 13, the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) said it had decided to conduct an inquest to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding Zara Qairina's death.
The AGC said the decision was made after reviewing the investigation report submitted by the Royal Malaysia Police in connection with the death of the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha student on Aug 12.
According to the AGC, the inquest proceedings aim to establish the cause of death and determine whether there were any criminal elements involved.
'This process will be conducted at the Coroner's Court independently and transparently under the provisions of the law,' the statement read.
The AGC said the decision to proceed with an inquest was in line with subsection 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code [Act 593].
On Aug 7, the legal team for Zara Qairina's family issued a statement requesting the AGC to instruct an inquest to be held to investigate whether there is criminal elements were involved in her death death.
Zara Qairina was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I in Kota Kinabalu on July 17 after being admitted a day earlier.
The Form One was found unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar at around 4am on July 16. Coroner's Court inquest lead Zara Qairina Mahathir
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