KOTA KINABALU, Sept 12 — A security guard at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar told the Coroner’s Court here today that Zara Qairina Mahathir had been accused of stealing money the night before she was found unconscious.

The inquest into the 13-year-old’s death heard these accounts as reports of allegations and reactions, and not as confirmation that the theft actually occurred.

Linah Mansoding @Jaliha said she had heard from students that Zara Qairina was believed to have taken RM300 and a bank card from a peer.

“On the night before the incident, one of the students realised her money was missing, some RM300 and her bank card were stolen. At that point, she didn’t name who she thought had taken her money.

“I also heard Ustaz Rizani asked to see Zara Qairina’s dormitory head. Later on, after the incident, I heard that Zara Qairina was the one accused of stealing the money,” she said.

Lawyer Shahlan Jufri asked how Ustaz Rizani had learned about the stolen money.

“A student complained to one of the seniors. She said Zara Qairina had taken her money. The senior then informed the Ustaz,” Linah replied.

 

This was after Zara Qairina was discovered unconscious on the ground floor of her dormitory at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar in the early morning of July 16.

Medical experts later confirmed that she died from traumatic brain injury consistent with a fall from height.

Linah was also asked how the Form Four students became involved.

She explained that the older students were assigned as “caretakers” or dormitory leaders for the Form One students.

The dorm leaders were tasked to teach the younger students, to look out for their welfare and also keep them in check.

Counsel Azhier Farhan, who represents of the five girls who have been charged in a separate case of bullying Zara Qairina, asked the security guard if the dorm leader could also take the initiative to investigate a case of theft.  

Linah: Yes, they can ask if they want. If someone complains about a student about stolen items, they can ask.

Azhier: Then when asked again, you said you heard Zara was a suspect in a theft incident involving Student A’s money?

Linah: Yes.

Azhier: Aside from that incident involving A’s money, did you hear of any other theft involving Zara?

Linah: No.

Linah said she did not inform the warden at the time she heard because it was late, but also had not heard of any conclusion to the allegation since then.

Another lawyer, Joan Goh, representing another one of Zara Qairina’s alleged bullies, then asked if any of the teachers or wardens had attempted to resolve the alleged theft at the hostel.

“No,” Linah replied.

Goh pressed the security guard further and asked if the latter knew if any follow-up action was taken after the Form Four  student told Ustaz Rizani of the allegation, but Linah said she was unaware.

Linah also testified that incidents of stolen items were uncommon, but had never heard of a case involving Zara Qairina.