Cover image via The Vibes
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The chief warden of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha has testified that he instructed several students to carry Zara Qairina Mahathir away from the spot where she was found unconscious beneath the school's hostel building on 16 July
Azhari Abd Sagap, 31, told the Coroner's Court that he gave the order immediately upon arriving at the scene, after a security guard alerted him.
"One to two minutes after I arrived, I told the students to carry Zara Qairina," he testified when questioned by conducting officer Mohd Fairuz Johari.
He said four students and security guard Linah Mansoding initially tried to lift Zara Qairina, but struggled due to her weight.
The warden then stepped in to help, carrying her alongside two students who supported her head and feet.
The warden said he initially did not notice any obvious injuries.
"I only saw an injury on her left leg. It was only after she was carried that I noticed traces of blood at the edge of the drain," he said, adding that he intended to take her to the hospital.
Zara Qairina was eventually carried about 20m away and placed in front of the female warden's quarters
Azhari explained that she was too heavy to carry to a car, so he made sure she was laid carefully on a sarong (kain pelikat).
Zara Qairina measured 153cm in height and weighed 53kg.
When asked why Zara Qairina was not placed in the nearby room labelled as a sick bay, Azhari said it was not an actual infirmary but had recently been converted into the head prefect's room.
"I thought of taking her straight to the hospital in my car, but because she was too heavy, we left her in front of the warden's house where it was sheltered. I didn't want to leave her where she was, in view of the other students," he said.
He added that placing Zara Qairina in the prefects' room could have traumatised the students residing there.
The inquest into Zara Qairina's death, which occurred under unclear circumstances, is ongoing.
Meanwhile, Forensic Medical Officer at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Dr Logaraj Ratha denied allegations that he failed to meet Zara Qairina's mother, Noraidah Lamat, to explain the post-mortem process on 17 July
The seventh witness in the inquest made the denial this morning, 17 September, after the family's lawyer, Rizwandean M Borhan, claimed that Noraidah had never met him.
Dr Logaraj testified that he had met Noraidah and another family member, Nur Shira Abdullah, at the Forensic Medicine Department that afternoon.
Although state prosecution director Nahra Dollah initially objected to the line of questioning, Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan allowed Dr Logaraj to respond.
Rizwandean pressed further, saying Noraidah insisted she was never informed about the importance of a post-mortem on her daughter's body.
Rizwandean: I have been instructed by Noraidah that you never met her. What is your response, doctor?
Dr Logaraj: I disagree. I met Noraidah and her family witness, Nur Shira, that afternoon at the HQE Forensic Medicine Department.
Rizwandean: I have also been instructed by Noraidah that you never explained to her, in the presence of Nur Shira, about the need and importance of the post-mortem. Can you respond?
Dr Logaraj: I disagree. I gave a complete explanation to Noraidah and Nur Shira that afternoon, and they signed the form after understanding my explanation.
Earlier, in his witness statement, Dr Logaraj said he informed Noraidah that the police had not issued Form Pol 61, the official request form for a post-mortem examination, before attempting to gather further details about Zara Qarina's death.
He also testified that although the police had not issued the form, a clinical post-mortem could still be carried out with the next of kin's consent. However, Noraidah declined the procedure despite the explanation.
