KOTA KINABALU: A new coroner will preside over the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, says Sabah Court director Azreena Aziz.
She said that Sessions Court judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan will preside over the case initially presided by her.
Azreena said the process of the inquest hearing will continue on the dates fixed for September.
She disclosed this during a proceeding to allow for Zara Qairina’s mother Noraidah Lamat, 45, to be accepted as an interested party in the inquest that is set to begin on Sept 3.
The decision to allow Noraidah as person of interest was made after the hearing of the legal team’s application at the Coroner’s Court here on Thursday (Aug 28).
The court also allowed the legal team representing the five teenagers who were charged with bullying in the Children’s Court on Aug 20 in connection with Zara Qairina’s death, to be interested parties in the inquest proceedings
Zara Qairina’s family lawyer Shahlan Jufri said that the court allowed his party to become an interested party in the inquest and it would give their team access to documents from the prosecution.
“We have been given permission to become an interested party and will also receive or have access to documents from the prosecution,” Shahlan said, adding that there were four conditions that must be complied with by his legal team.
Shahlan also said that there was also an application from the defence lawyers representing the teenagers charged in the Children’s court last week, who wanted to be included as interested parties in the inquest.
Shahlan said that they objected to the application but the Attorney General’s Chambers had no objection. The application was allowed by the Coroner’s Court judge.
The teenagers’ defence teams also applied for the inquest to be postponed but the application was rejected by the Coroner’s Court, Shahlan said.
He said that the relevant documents including Zara Qairina’s autopsy report would be available on Sept 2.
The teenagers’ lawyers present were Datuk Ram Singh, along with Joan Goh and Elmer Prem Gunasan, who represented one of the teenagers charged. Lawyers Azhier Farhan Arisin, Abdul Fikry Jaafar, Farah Nazriah Chun Lee, Fareez Salleh and Sylester Kuan represented the other four teenagers.
The prosecution team was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Dana Arabi Wazani, Sofia Sawayan, Afiq Agoes, and Dacia Jane Romanus.
