KOTA KINABALU, Aug 28 — The Coroner's Court has confirmed that the inquest to investigate the cause of death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir will proceed as scheduled in September.
However, the inquest, beginning on September 3, will be heard before a new Coroner — Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, who replaces Azreena Aziz.
Azreena, who also serves as Sabah State Court Director, announced this during today's proceedings.
She said that she recused herself from hearing the case as she is living in Papar, where the religious school attended by Zara is located, even though she was not familiar with the names allegedly involved in the case.
The inquest dates have been scheduled for September 3 to September 4, September 8 to September 12, September 17 to September 19, and September 22 to September 30.
Earlier, the Coroner's Court granted applications from the counsel representing Zara's family to be recognised as interested parties in the inquest proceeding and to access all relevant documents related to the case.
Additionally, it also allowed similar applications from counsels representing the five teenagers who were charged in the Kota Kinabalu Children's Court last week in connection with the case.
Today's proceeding was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Dana Arabi Wazani, Sofia Sawayan, Afiq Agoes, and Dacia Jane Romanus, who will serve as conducting officers in the inquest.
Zara, 13, was pronounced dead at the Queen Elizabeth I Hospital on July 17. She had been admitted to the hospital after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory in Papar at 4am on July 16.
On August 13, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) announced that an inquest would be conducted into her death after reviewing the investigation report submitted by the police.
On August 8, the AGC ordered for the exhumation of Zara's remains to allow for a post-mortem examination.
