Zara inquest to commence on Sept 3

The Coroner's Court has set Sept 3 to commence inquest proceedings for Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.

Coroner Azreena Aziz today scheduled the proceedings to run from Sept 3 to 4, Sept 8 to 12, Sept 17 to 19 and Sept 22 to 30.

Earlier, conducting officer Fairus Johari, who is also a deputy public prosecutor, said the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) yesterday applied for an inquiry into the death of 13-year-old Zara.

He said 195 witnesses are involved in the case, but the final witness list will be determined before the inquest begins.

Azreena requested that the witness list be finalised at least two days before the start of proceedings.

Other conducting officers are Dana Arabi Wazani, Afiq Agoes and Dacia Jane Romanus, all of whom are also DPPs.

Zara was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I on July 17.

She had been admitted to the hospital after being found unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar at 4am on July 16.

In a statement last Wednesday, the AGC said an inquest would be conducted into Zara’s death after reviewing the investigation report submitted by police.

On Aug 8, the AGC said that the body of Zara would be exhumed to allow a post-mortem examination to be conducted.

The exhumation of Zara’s body at the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery, Kampung Mesapol, Sipitang, was completed at 7.15pm on Aug 9.

- Bernama

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