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THE coroner’s court in Kota Kinabalu heard today that an internal investigation report into the circumstances surrounding the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir was never formally submitted to any external authority, but was instead retained exclusively within a special file at the school’s disciplinary unit.
Nurul Syahadah Ibrahim, 38, the Assistant Head of Discipline at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, confirmed that the report was never forwarded to the District Education Office, State Education Department, Ministry of Education, Royal Malaysia Police, or even the school principal.
Responding to questioning by Clarice Vyone Conrad, lawyer for Zara Qairina’s father, Nurul Syahadah agreed that the report should have been submitted to the principal in any circumstance, as it was the head of the school’s responsibility to be apprised of all incidents.
"Yes, true. The principal needs to be informed even in minor cases… I acknowledge this was my oversight… the internal investigation report was only known to the disciplinary unit, and we maintained its confidentiality even within the same school… we considered the report solely for internal records," she said during the inquest proceedings before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
She added that the principal was not provided with a copy because he was no longer at the school and they rarely met to hand it over in person.
Clarice then asked: "Since when was the principal no longer at the school?"
Nurul Syahadah replied, "As far as I recall, since August this year."
Clarice: "But when the report was dated 16 and 17 July, the principal was still at the school, correct?"
Nurul Syahadah: "Yes, he was still there. I overlooked that."
Clarice questioned, "Earlier you said this was a serious case; how could it have been overlooked?"
Nurul Syahadah acknowledged, "True, it was a serious case, but at that time we were struggling with our respective duties… Yes, for the report dated 16 and 17 July, I personally failed to submit it to the principal because I was too focused on the internal investigation."
She further clarified that the report was intended solely for the school’s internal records and not for external authorities, although she acknowledged that it could have been submitted if requested by the police.
During proceedings yesterday, Nurul Syahadah stated that the internal investigation had taken place on 16 and 17 July as well as 4, 5, and 13 August, involving several students, including five who were reportedly the last to see Zara Qairina alive.
The inquiry was conducted through interviews and written statements from witnesses.
The session today was shortened due to the 17th Sabah Genera; Election taking place tomorrow and is scheduled to resume on Monday.
Zara Qairina was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sabah, on 17 July, after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at 4 a.m. on 16 July. - November 28, 2025
