Zara's mother refused post-mortem, investigating officer tells inquest

KOTA KINABALU: The late Zara Qairina Mahathir's mother refused to allow a post-mortem examination despite receiving an explanation from police, the investigating officer told the Coroner's Court.

Inspector Wong Yew Zhung said he met Noraidah Lamat at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on July 17, 2025, after Zara Qairina, 13, was pronounced dead.

The 83rd witness said he received a call from Dr Pavankumar Balachandran informing him that Zara Qairina had died from "severe traumatic brain injury with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy."

After the call, Wong and the duty photographer rushed to QEH where they met Dr Pavankumar and Noraidah in the neurosurgical ward.

"I informed and explained to Zara's mother that a post-mortem examination would be conducted to assist the investigation into her death.

"However, Zara's mother, refused to allow the post-mortem examination.

"I explained the post-mortem examination to her again, but she remained adamant, saying: 'No. I want to bury her immediately,'" he said before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

Wong said no POL 61 form, a police request for a post-mortem examination, was issued at the time because Noraidah had refused the procedure and Zara Qairina's cause of death had been established.

He said Noraidah also signed several documents on July 17, 2025, before the teenager's remains were released to her family for burial.

Among the documents was a Declaration of Voluntary Refusal of Post-Mortem Examination, where Noraidah acknowledged she did not wish for a post-mortem to be conducted, did not suspect any criminal act in connection with her daughter's death and would not request a post-mortem report from the hospital for medico-legal, insurance or other claims.

The other two documents were a Death Notification and Body Management Form and a Declaration of Confirmation of Funeral Arrangements.

Wong, however, said he applied for an order to exhume Zara Qairina's body on August 9, 2025, following instructions from the Attorney-General's Chambers.

Wong and a team from the Papar district police headquarters (IPD), assisted by the Sabah police contingent (IPK), proceeded to the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Mesapol Lama, Sipitang.

The exhumation was completed that night. Zara Qairina's was then taken to the Forensic Department at QEH for a post-mortem examination.

Wong said the examination began at 11am on August 10, 2025, led by forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu, assisted by three other doctors - Dr Khairul Anuar Zainun, Dr Muhammad Uzair Ahmad Suriani and Dr Lau Cheng Cheng.

"Also present during the procedure were Papar criminal investigation division chief Assistant Superintendent Rosli Rasi, myself, Inspector Desmond Tanggapan, Zara's mother and her legal representative, Shahlan Jufri," he said.

Based on the post-mortem findings, Dr Jessie concluded that Zara Qairina's cause of death was severe traumatic brain injury with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy.

"The cause of death determined by Dr Jessie following the post-mortem examination was the same as that confirmed on July 17.

"Dr Jessie's examination of the injuries found on Zara's body also showed that they were consistent with injuries sustained from a fall from height," he said.

Noraidah, who completed her testimony yesterday, attended today's proceedings and sat in the public gallery with her sister-in-law, Nur Shira.

The inquest began on Sept 3, 2025, to establish the cause and circumstances leading to Zara Qairina's death, including whether any criminal elements were involved.