KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) — UMNO has expressed its full support for the Attorney General’s Chambers’ (AGC) decision to conduct an inquest into the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir, including to determine whether any criminal elements were involved.
UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party hoped the inquest would be conducted independently and transparently, in accordance with the law, to ensure justice for the late Zara Qairina.
He said this was among several matters agreed upon at tonight’s UMNO Supreme Council meeting, chaired by its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“UMNO is deeply saddened by Zara Qairina’s death, believed to be linked to bullying. The handling of the case, which appears weak and not in accordance with the Royal Malaysia Police’s (PDRM) SOPs, is highly disappointing,” he said.
In a statement today, the AGC said the decision to conduct the inquest was made after reviewing the investigation report submitted by PDRM.
The AGC said the decision to proceed with an inquest was in line with subsection 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code [Act 593].
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar said at a press conference here earlier today that the case, initially classified as sudden death, would now focus on possible criminal elements, including bullying.
He said this was among the findings of a special CID team comprising nine officers and personnel who were sent to Sabah on Aug 11 to investigate the case.
The 13-year-old was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school’s dormitory at about 4 am on July 16.
–BERNAMA
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