KOTA KINABALU: The Coroner’s Court was told today that the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir firmly refused a post-mortem on her daughter’s body, despite repeated explanations about the importance of the procedure.
Dr Logaraj Ratha, a medical officer undergoing off-campus training at the Forensic Medicine Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital since June last year, testified that he had explained the need for a medico-legal post-mortem to the mother, Noraidah Lamat, multiple times.
He said these explanations were provided before, during, and even after she signed the formal document titled “Surat Akuan Enggan Bedah Siasat Mayat Atas Kemahuan Sendiri” – a declaration form indicating her refusal to consent to a post-mortem.
“All the details in the form were filled in by the victim’s mother herself, and I was with her throughout the process,” said Dr Logaraj during questioning by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fairuz Johari, who is acting as the conducting officer for the inquest.
Mohd Firdaus: How many times did you explain the importance of a post-mortem to Puan Noraidah Lamat?
Dr Logaraj: I explained it twice before she signed the form… I also gave further explanations several times during and after she signed it. I continued to explain the matter to her.– BERNAMA
