Kota Kinabalu: The second child witness revealed that the late Zara Qairina Mahathir was ridiculed over a private note before she ran out of the hostel in tears.
Counsel Rizwandean M. Borhan who briefed reporters outside the court after the proceedings in evening session, said the second child witness gave a detailed and clear testimony about what happened on the night of the incident involving the late Zara.
“According to the child witness, on the night of July 15, she (second child witness) complained to another student that she had lost her wallet and suspected that Zara had taken it.
“After she made the complaint, one student had called Zara into their dormitory. Zara was taken to the end of the dorm, into a corner, where she sat and was questioned about whether she had stolen the wallet. Zara replied that she had not touched or taken the wallet.
“And the student who was questioning Zara asked her to swear, and she swore ‘Wallahi’, that she had not touched and not taken the wallet.
“The child witness said she then believed Zara and, according to her, Zara had said sorry.
“However, the situation escalated when another student stormed in and angrily accused Zara of stealing a flag pin. That student later returned with several others, cornered Zara in the dormitory.
“At that time, Zara was still sitting in the corner of the room,” said Rizwandean.
Rizwandean further briefed the media that the second child witness said Zara was surrounded by several other students who were standing around.
“One of the angry student had used words such as ‘Bodoh, sial and injak’ (stupid, damn, and stamp),’ and at that moment, Zara began to cry.
“According to the child witness, she saw Zara crying, and after that, several students there laughed at her.
“The child witness also said that one of them took out a letter, which was Zara’s private note.
“According to her, several students mocked Zara based on the private note, and she cried even more. After several students left, the late Zara cried and ran out.
“The child witness said she did not do anything at that time because she was scared and also cried,” said Rizwandean, adding that the child witness used the words that Zara was restrained and surrounded.
Meanwhile, counsel Datuk Ram Singh said the second child witness said that there was some misunderstanding before the incident.
Ram also said that whatever allegations that were made, Student A was not there.
The second child witness had finished her testimony on Wednesday and the third child witness is expected to testify today (Thursday).
During the briefing session with reporters, the media was informed that an issue had been raised regarding media presence during the child witness’s testimony.
The matter will be decided after the conducting officers consult their superiors at headquarters.
