AGC orders inquest into Zara's death

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has ordered an inquest into the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir to determine if there were criminal elements in the July 16 incident.

In a statement, AGC said the decision was made after it reviewed an investigation report police submitted yesterday.

“This inquest proceeding is aimed at determining the cause of her death and what had caused it, including identifying whether there was any criminal element in Zara’s death.

“The Coroner’s Court will handle this process in a transparent and independent manner according to the law,” it said.

Zara was found unconscious in a drain below her school dormitory in Papar on July 16 and died the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I in Kota Kinabalu.

Her family believes bullying may have played a role.

Her death has sparked various conspiracies, including a purported cover-up.

The conspiracies were exacerbated by the local police’s failure to perform an autopsy, which led to her remains being exhumed for a post-mortem.

Following public uproar, the AGC issued an order last week for Zara’s body to be exhumed for a post-mortem.

Bukit Aman later decided to take over the investigation and sent nine officers from the Criminal Investigation Department to Sabah to ensure the probe was thorough and transparent.

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