Kota Kinabalu: About 200 witnesses had their statements recorded to assist investigations into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir and the preparation of a sudden death report, the Coroner’s Court here heard on Tuesday.
Investigating Officer Inspector Wong Yew Zhung said those called to give statements included Zara’s family members, neighbours, primary and secondary school friends, as well as teachers.
“Medical officers, police personnel and students from Zara’s hostel were also called to have their statements recorded,” he said.
Wong said he recorded all the statements personally, with assistance from police officers from the Papar District Police Headquarters (IPD), Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK) and Sipitang District Police Headquarters.
The 83rd deponent was testifying in the inquest into Zara’s death before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
He said the investigation began following a police report lodged by hostel chief warden Azhari Abd Sagap on July 16, 2025.
Wong subsequently recorded Azhari’s statement at noon that day at the Criminal Investigation Division office of the Papar IPD before proceeding to record statements from security guards and hostel students the following day.
He said the recording of statements from witnesses, including hostel students and medical officers, continued on July 18, 2025, from about 9am to 8pm.
On the same day, he sought assistance from an investigating officer at the Sipitang IPD to record an initial statement from Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, who was in Sipitang at the time.
Wong said police later sought the school’s assistance to identify several students after Noraidah provided information about them. Their statements were subsequently recorded on July 21, 2025.
“According to the students, the last time they saw Zara was around May 2025. They also did not see or know what had happened until Zara was found unconscious,” he said.
Wong also said he recorded statements from senior students who were reported to have met Zara on the night of July 15, 2025, as well as students who helped move her after she was found unconscious near a hostel drain.
Police also recorded statements from students and teachers who found notebooks and loose sheets of paper believed to contain Zara’s handwriting.
