Latest news with #Shahlan
Daily Express
8 hours ago
- Daily Express
Zara likely had 20-30 injuries
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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
Zara Qairina case: Family holds off on comments pending official post-mortem report
Published on: Monday, August 11, 2025 Published on: Mon, Aug 11, 2025 Text Size: Filepic of Shahlan speaking to reporters on Sunday (Aug 10). - Pic by Jonathan Nicholas | Daily Express KOTA KINABALU: The family of Zara Qairina Mahathir will withhold further comments until the hospital issues the official post-mortem report to avoid any conflict with the verbal findings earlier conveyed to their legal team and her mother. In a statement on Monday, family lawyers Shahlan Jufri and Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi expressed gratitude to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) for directing police to apply for the exhumation and subsequent post-mortem on Aug 10. Advertisement They also thanked police for closely overseeing both the exhumation and examination processes. The family acknowledged the presence and support of individuals, including members of the media, who were at the cemetery and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) throughout the day. They said this solidarity was deeply appreciated as the family navigates the next steps in the legal process. * 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
Sinar Daily
2 days ago
- Sinar Daily
Zara Qairina case: Lawyer refutes claims of outside interference, stands by integrity of post-mortem
He described the environment as professional and accountable. Shahlan Jufri KOTA KINABALU – The lawyer representing Noraidah Lamat, mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, has rejected allegations circulating on social media suggesting that the post-mortem of the Form One student was influenced by any external or unseen parties. Shahlan Jufri, who accompanied the forensic team throughout the entire procedure, said that the autopsy was carried out thoroughly and transparently over the course of more than eight hours, involving four medical specialists, police officers and an official photographer. 'The post-mortem procedure was conducted professionally. There were no elements as described on social media, no hidden hands. 'I personally witnessed every step, including the internal organ examination, from start to finish,' he said. He confirmed that he was present from 11am until 7.30pm and observed the entire process alongside a group of seven to eight individuals consisting of forensic experts, police representatives and himself. He described the environment as professional and accountable. Shahlan also made clear that no individuals of high status or Very Very Important Persons (VVIPs) were present at any point during the post-mortem. 'There were none. Only family representatives, medical professionals and police officers were present,' he added. He further mentioned that documentation of the autopsy was properly recorded, but emphasised that details regarding injuries cannot be made public at this stage, as the case remains under active investigation. The family lawyer confirmed the presence of injuries on Zara Qairina's body and stressed that the post-mortem process was conducted transparently without external interference. 'The post-mortem report is a confidential document and not for public release. It may only be disclosed in court should an inquest be held,' he said. Looking ahead, Shahlan said that a formal request for an inquest may be pursued once the current investigation has concluded. 'Next, I'll be discussing the next steps with the family and our legal team. There is a strong possibility we will apply for an inquest,' he said.
![Lawyer: No interference in Zara's post-mortem examination [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Lawyer: No interference in Zara's post-mortem examination [WATCH]
KOTA KINABALU: The post-mortem examination of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, conducted at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE) Forensic Department here, went smoothly without any interference. Lawyer Shahlan Jufri, who observed the procedure from 11am to 7.30pm at the request of the deceased's family, said he personally witnessed the entire process from start to finish. "I can say the post-mortem was carried out very well. There were no elements as alleged on social media, such as claims of certain 'hands' being involved. None of that happened. "I saw for myself how Zara was examined until the procedure was completed, including all the necessary steps," he told reporters at the HQE grounds. Shahlan added that once the post-mortem was completed, the forensic team would prepare the report within the timeframe set by the relevant authorities. On how long it would take, Shahlan said it was difficult to determine exactly, but the maximum could be up to two months. "If you ask how long the process will take, I can't say exactly. The fastest might be within a certain period, but at the latest, it could take two months. "This is because it involves several specialists, and all of them will discuss things before finalising the post-mortem report," he said. Commenting on the procedure itself, Shahlan said he saw the doctors conduct a thorough examination of Zara's remains. "In the forensic room, I saw exactly how the doctors examined her. It was done thoroughly. "Several police personnel were also present, but only I and the forensic team entered the examination room, as per the wishes of Zara's family," he said. Shahlan said the post-mortem was conducted by four specialists, including Dr Khairul Anuar Zainun, consultant pathologist at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang. They were assisted by a forensic photographer and a police photographer. Zara's remains were exhumed yesterday for a post-mortem to complete investigations into her death. She had originally been buried on July 17. The exhumation at Tanjung Ubi Muslim cemetery in Mesapol, Sipitang, was carried out following a magistrate's order via Zoom proceedings at the Papar police headquarters yesterday. After the post-mortem was completed, Zara's remains were taken back to Sipitang to be reburied at the same location. The Form One student was reported to have died at HQE a day after allegedly falling from the third floor of the dormitory building at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha,Kinarut, on July 16.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Lawyer: No interference in Zara's post-mortem examination
KOTA KINABALU: The post-mortem examination of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, conducted at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE) Forensic Department here, went smoothly without any interference. Lawyer Shahlan Jufri, who observed the procedure from 11am to 7.30pm at the request of the deceased's family, said he personally witnessed the entire process from start to finish. "I can say the post-mortem was carried out very well. There were no elements as alleged on social media, such as claims of certain 'hands' being involved. None of that happened. "I saw for myself how Zara was examined until the procedure was completed, including all the necessary steps," he told reporters at the HQE grounds. Shahlan added that once the post-mortem was completed, the forensic team would prepare the report within the timeframe set by the relevant authorities. On how long it would take, Shahlan said it was difficult to determine exactly, but the maximum could be up to two months. "If you ask how long the process will take, I can't say exactly. The fastest might be within a certain period, but at the latest, it could take two months. "This is because it involves several specialists, and all of them will discuss things before finalising the post-mortem report," he said. Commenting on the procedure itself, Shahlan said he saw the doctors conduct a thorough examination of Zara's remains. "In the forensic room, I saw exactly how the doctors examined her. It was done thoroughly. "Several police personnel were also present, but only I and the forensic team entered the examination room, as per the wishes of Zara's family," he said. Shahlan said the post-mortem was conducted by four specialists, including Dr Khairul Anuar Zainun, consultant pathologist at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang. They were assisted by a forensic photographer and a police photographer. Zara's remains were exhumed yesterday for a post-mortem to complete investigations into her death. She had originally been buried on July 17. The exhumation at Tanjung Ubi Muslim cemetery in Mesapol, Sipitang, was carried out following a magistrate's order via Zoom proceedings at the Papar police headquarters yesterday. After the post-mortem was completed, Zara's remains were taken back to Sipitang to be reburied at the same location. The Form One student was reported to have died at HQE a day after allegedly falling from the third floor of the dormitory building at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha,Kinarut, on July 16.
