Kota kinabalu: The Coroner's Court here was told today that the late Zara Qairina Mahathir had claimed she was being harassed by a 'tomboy' student while staying at the hostel.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the deceased's aunt, Nur Shira Abdullah, 46, who appeared as the 71st witness in the inquest into the teenager's death, said Zara Qairina had personally told her about the matter when the victim returned home for the Aidilfitri holidays last year. Nur Shira mentioned that Zara Qairina's roommate had informed her about the student in question physically harassing her while she was asleep, along with other unsettling situations during her hostel stay.
'While Zara was telling us about the matter, my child accidentally recorded Zara's account,' Nur Shira said while testifying before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan. She further elaborated on Zara Qairina's complaints about being instructed to fetch hot water from the lower floor of the hostel during the early hours, despite residing on the third floor. Additionally, Zara Qairina reported missing money, suspected to have been stolen.
Nur Shira noted that Zara Qairina's concerns primarily revolved around school and hostel life and her interactions with friends, without indicating family-related issues. 'Zara never stated that she was unloved by her mother or afraid of her mother. From my observation, Zara shared those matters as things that made her uncomfortable, but she was still able to talk about them normally,' she added.
The witness also claimed that Zara Qairina had informed her of lodging a complaint with a warden, who did not believe her claims. Addressing the post-mortem examination issue, Nur Shira denied any hasty decision-making by the family, clarifying that a doctor in the forensic room had merely asked her to sign a form without detailed explanation. She also refuted claims of discussing the post-mortem issue publicly, asserting that Zara Qairina's mother, Noraidah Lamat, only spoke of it once privately in the ward.
Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after being found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel at about 4 am. The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) had previously directed an inquest after reviewing the police investigation report. The inquest will continue tomorrow.