NO witnesses saw the incident that led to Zara Qairina Mahathir being found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel, the Coroner’s Court here heard on Tuesday.
Investigating Officer Inspector Wong Yew Zhung said investigations found that no security guards or hostel wardens had conducted patrols on the third floor of the hostel on the night of the incident.
He also found that there were no closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in the hostel area that could have captured the incident.
Wong was testifying as the 83rd deponent before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
In his witness statement, Wong said checks with the school and hostel management found no records of formal complaints by Zara or her parents or guardians concerning bullying, physical harm or other incidents involving her.
He said medical evidence from the officers involved in treating Zara, together with the post-mortem findings by Dr Jessie Hiu, showed injuries consistent with a fall from a height.
No other physical injuries were identified that could indicate Zara had been injured by another person before she was found unconscious, he said.
Wong also said his examination of data extracted from mobile phones seized during the investigation did not uncover information or evidence that could help explain the circumstances or manner of Zara’s death.
He said the investigation covered witness statements, examination of the scene, checks with the school and hostel management, scrutiny of documents related to Zara, medical and post-mortem evidence, and analysis of digital evidence.
These steps were taken to establish a comprehensive picture of the circumstances and events leading to Zara being found unconscious, and to identify evidence that could assist the Coroner’s Court in determining the cause, manner and circumstances of her death.
Zara, 13, was found unconscious near a drain at her hostel on July 16, 2025, and died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following day.
