Kota Kinabalu: Noraidah Lamat, whose testimony in the inquest into the death of her daughter, Zara Qairina Mahathir, has concluded, was allowed by the Coroner’s Court here on Tuesday to sit in the public gallery and follow the proceedings.
Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan made the decision after hearing submissions from the parties following the completion of Noraidah’s testimony as the 82nd deponent, adding that the court would consider the grounds of any application to recall her as a witness.
Earlier, conducting officer Nahra Dollah objected to Noraidah’s presence in the public gallery, expressing concern that it could cause prejudice if she were recalled to testify.
However, counsel Datuk Rizwandean M Borhan, representing Noraidah, argued that there was no issue of prejudice as she had completed her testimony and, as an interested party in the inquest, had the right to follow the proceedings, while counsel Nurul Rafeeqa Afdul Mutolip, representing Zara’s father, agreed with his submissions.
Nurul Rafeeqa said Noraidah could still learn about witnesses’ testimony through news reports even if she did not attend court, and her presence in the public gallery would therefore make no difference; Noraidah was accompanied by her sister-in-law, Nur Shira Abdullah, the 71st deponent, as the inquest continued to hear testimony from investigating officer Inspector Wong Yew Zhung.
