Inquest
Zara Qairina death (SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar)
Hearing stage closed after 96 days and 83 witnesses. Parties file written submissions by 15 Dec; the coroner will deliver findings on 15 Jan 2027.
- Category
- Child & school
- Since
- 16 Jul 2025
- Last update
- 16 Oct 2026
- Next
- 15 Dec 2026 · Written submissions due
Timeline
- Form One student, 13, found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel at 4am.
- Pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu.
- AGC orders exhumation for a post-mortem; done 9 Aug.
- AGC orders an inquest.
- Five minors (Students A–E) charged with using insulting words against Zara; plead not guilty.
- Inquest begins before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
- Coroner says no end date can be estimated; sits one week per month.
- Coroner sets 23 Oct as the final hearing date.
- All 83 witnesses have testified; investigating officer says no one witnessed the fall and no hostel CCTV.
- Coroner fixes 15 Dec for written submissions, 8 Jan 2027 for oral clarification, and 15 Jan 2027 to deliver the findings.