Kota Kinabalu: A teacher at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha told the Coroner’s Court that documents from the five internal investigations into Zara Qairina Mahathir’s incident would be kept by the school “sampai bila-bila” (forever).
Nurul Shahadah Ibrahim, 38, answering questions from counsel Clarice Vyone Conrad, said that the reports and students’ written statements were intended solely for school records.
Clarice: The school keeps the reports as reference, and then for what?Nurul: For record only.
Clarice: For sampai bila-bila (forever) record?Nurul: Yes, true.
Clarice: So, the school does not intend to give the documents to the police?Nurul: No. As I mentioned before, we really trust the authorities.
Clarice: After taking written statements from the students involved, where do you keep the documents?Nurul: Inside the Discipline Unit’s file. A special file for Zara.
Clarice: How many special files for Zara were prepared by the school?Nurul: One.
Nurul, the 54th deponent, further testified that she had scanned the written statements of the five students who were the last to see Zara, to prepare the preliminary report on the July 15 incident.
She said scanning the documents made it easier to prepare reports without repeatedly referring to the file.
She added that it did not occur to the school that the students’ statements could assist the police investigation, noting they had never followed such a procedure before.
They would have handed over the statements to the police if the case had been formally taken up.
Clarice: Did you ever consider that those early written statements could actually help the police, especially since they were made just one day after the incident?Nurul: We truly did not think about it. This involved the police, which is very serious. At that time, it never crossed our minds to give the statements to the police. We also did not want to interfere with their investigation.
Clarice: Did you know there was a possibility that what the students told you and what they told the police might differ?Nurul: I am not sure about that, but I hope the investigation is carried out properly.
Clarice: It has been four months. This report is in the school’s file and is still unsigned. Why?Nurul: I overlooked it.
Clarice: How could you overlook it when you said earlier that this case is serious?Nurul: I’m sorry, I truly overlooked it. At that time, we were fully focused on the internal investigation.
Clarice: And this internal investigation was not informed to the police?Nurul: No.
Clarice: And also not informed to Zara’s mother?Nurul: No. Because these were early statements, and we were worried they might lead to a negative perspective.
She testified that the school’s records of the investigation were not submitted to anyone, including the principal, the District Education Office (PPD), the State Education Department (JPN), or the Ministry of Education (KPM). Nurul agreed the reports should have been provided both orally and in writing, but said the Discipline Unit maintained confidentiality even within the school.
Clarice: Isn’t the school principal the most important person who must know everything that happens in the school, verbally or in writing, no matter how small? Correct?Nurul: Correct.
Clarice: Meaning, the principal really needed to know about this report?Nurul: Correct. And in this matter, I place the blame on my own oversight.
Nurul also told the Coroner that Student C had faced disciplinary action for bringing a handphone this year. She did not clearly remember details regarding Student E, only noting that on July 15, Student E had brought a handphone. She said the selection of Student E as dorm leader, despite the prior disciplinary action, was outside her scope of duties.
Today’s (Friday) proceedings were shortened due to the Sabah state election today (Saturday) and will continue on Monday.
Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital here on July 17 after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at 4am July 16.
