KUCHING: Papar Member of Parliament, Datuk Amiran Mohd Ali, has backed the Attorney-General’s Chamber’s (AGC) decision to seek the exhumation of Form 1 student, Zara Qairina Mahathir’s body, to allow for a post-mortem.
Calling it an appropriate move, he said from the outset, in cases where the cause and circumstances of death are unclear, a post-mortem is much needed to prevent issues such as those arising in this case.
“In such situations, investigating officers have a duty to ensure this is done, as stipulated under Section 330 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” said Amirzan, who is Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister.
“I hope the police will promptly proceed with the necessary steps for the autopsy,” he was quoted as saying in a news report by FMT.
He added that although it may still be too early to decide, the authorities should remain open to the possibility of convening an inquest if the circumstances justify it.
“An inquest is a legal process available under our system that allows all facts and circumstances to be examined through as many witnesses as possible, while giving the public access to follow the proceedings and obtain information,” he said.
“This is particularly important in cases that have drawn extraordinary public attention and sparked speculation and misinformation.”
Armizan said that while some may exploit the situation to push certain agendas, there are far more people who simply want the truth and justice to prevail.
He said justice must be served for the late Zara, and any speculation or slander must be curbed through a transparent and orderly process grounded in law.
Zara, 13, was found unconscious at 4:00 am on July 16 after she allegedly fell from the third floor of her school’s hostel in Papar, Sabah.
She died at the Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu the following day, and was laid to rest at the Tanjung Hubi Cemetery in Mesapol, Sipitang.
Sabah Police Commissioner Jauteh Dikun had previously said they had not ruled out the possibility that she had been bullied.
On Friday, the AGC in a statement said, after reviewing the full preliminary investigation report submitted by the police regarding the death of Zara, it is of the view that there is a need for further investigation by the police to ensure all aspects of the case are examined thoroughly.
“Accordingly, the full preliminary investigation report has been returned to the police together with several directives, including the requirement to exhume the body of Zara to enable a post-mortem examination to be conducted.
“This step is aimed at ensuring that the police obtain the additional information and evidence required to complete the investigation into the death of Zara,” the AGC said.
Meanwhile, the Daily Express in Sabah reported that the Magistrate’s Court in Papar had on Saturday granted an application for an exhumation order for Zara.
Lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri said the application was granted by Magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa at the request of the Investigating Officer.
Hamid also said the exhumation in Sipitang will be witnessed by Zara’s mother along with Magistrate Wan Farrah Farizza Wan Ghazali, Sabah Prosecution Director, two Deputy Public Prosecutors, a forensic expert from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, police, and Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department officers.
