The Kota Kinabalu coroner’s court has confirmed that the inquest to investigate the cause of schoolgirl Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death will proceed as scheduled in September.
However, the inquest beginning Sept 3 will be heard before a new coroner – sessions court judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan. He will replace Azreena Aziz.
Bernama reported that Azreena, who also serves as Sabah court director, announced this during today’s proceedings.
She said she recused herself from hearing the case as she lives in Papar, where the religious school attended by Zara is located, even though she was not familiar with the names allegedly involved in the case.
The inquest dates have been fixed for Sept 3 to 4, Sept 8 to 12, Sept 17 to 19 and Sept 22 to 30.
Earlier, the coroner’s court granted applications from the counsel representing Zara’s family to be recognised as an interested party in the inquest proceeding and to access all relevant documents related to the case.
The court also allowed similar applications from counsel representing the five teenagers charged in the Kota Kinabalu children’s court last week in connection with the case.
Today’s proceeding was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Dana Arabi Wazani, Sofia Sawayan, Afiq Agoes and Dacia Jane Romanus, who will serve as conducting officers at the inquest.
Zara died in hospital a day after she was found unconscious at 4am on July 16 after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school hostel.
On Aug 13, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) ordered that Zara’s body be exhumed to allow for a post-mortem examination.
On Aug 8, the AGC announced that an inquest would be conducted into her death after reviewing the investigation report submitted by the police.
