Kota Kinabalu: A police officer who was the final witness in the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death told the Coroner’s Court on Wednesday that his investigation found no evidence of pushing or murder.
Inspector Wong Yew Zhung, the 83rd witness to testify before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, said his investigation had found nothing suspicious in Zara’s death.
When asked by counsel Joan Goh about the possibility of accidental death, Wong said the matter should be referred to an expert.
Goh: Based on your investigation, especially the fact that you interviewed 200 people, you would have investigated Zara’s family background, yes?Witness: Yes.
Goh: What about the possibility of accidental death?Wong: Maybe a pathologist can explain that.
Goh: You also investigated Zara’s family relationships, correct?Witness: Correct.
Goh: Based on your investigation, was there anyone who might have had a motive to forge Zara’s handwriting in her diary and the 15 sheets of paper tendered to you, as stated in your statement?Goh: There was no reason for anyone to do that.
Zara, 13, was found unconscious near a hostel drain on July 16, 2025, and died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following day.
Her remains were exhumed on Aug 9, 2025, and a post-mortem examination was conducted at the hospital’s Forensic Medicine Department on Aug 10.
On Aug 20, 2025, five teenagers, identified by the pseudonyms students A, B, C, D and E, were charged in the Court for Children in connection with Zara’s case.
