Kota Kinabalu: One of the five students who was charged in the Children’s Court related to the late Zara Qairina Mahathir’s incident, had moved to another school after the July 16 incident.
Chief Warden Azhari Abd Sagap, when answering questions from lawyer Shahlan Jufri, said he did not know the reason why the student had moved to another school.
He added that the other four students namely B, C, D and E, are still studying at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha.
Shahlan: Are students A, B, C, D and E still studying at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha?Azhari: Right now, yes.
Shahlan: Explain.
Azhari: Yes, still studying there.
Shahlan: I was informed that student A had moved to another school.
Azhari: Yes.
Shahlan: So those still studying there are B, C, D and E?Azhari: Yes, correct.
When asked how Student A was able to transfer to another school despite the Ministry of Education having frozen transfers following Zara’s incident, Azhari replied that it was beyond his scope of duties.
Azhari said he could not recall when Student A moved to another school, suggesting it may have been a few weeks after the incident.
He added that he did not know the reason given for the transfer.
Shahlan: To my understanding, a reason must be given in order to transfer schools. Do you know what reason Student A gave?Azhari: I do not know.
Shahlan: Do you know how the process of transferring to another school works?Azhari: There is a form to be filled out to apply for a school transfer.
Shahlan: Usually how long does it take?Azhari: Once all the documents are completed, it can proceed.
Shahlan: How long does it take for the application to be approved?Azhari: That I do not know, it is not within my scope of duties.
Azhari, who is the eighth deponent at the inquest of Zara, affirmed when asked by Shahlan whether students B, C, D and E were still living in the school hostel after the incident on July 16.
He said student E, who was also the room chief, no longer stayed in the same room after the incident due to trauma.
“Now student E is no longer staying in the room (the room leader), because she said she was traumatised by the incident and could no longer stay in that room,” Azhari said.
He added that only students B, C and D still stayed in the same room.
Azhari, in response to further questions from Shahlan, said he was not aware of the scribbles on the Design and Technology (RBT) room wall that read, “Zara Qairina perasan cantic (Zara Qairina thinks she’s pretty).
He told the court he only learnt of the writing after hearing that an audio recording had circulated.
Shahlan: I was informed there is an RBT room in SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha?Azhari: Yes, there is. Design and Technology, which is a subject. The room is located in the academic block, but I am not sure on which floor.
Shahlan: Do you know about scribble regarding Zara on the RBT room wall?Azhari: I knew about it through an audio recording that circulated.
Shahlan: The graffiti in the RBT room read “Zara Qairina thinks she’s pretty,” correct?Azhari: I do not know.
When asked about the students’ emotional state following Zara’s incident, Azhari said some were traumatised, particularly those who had helped carry her.
