The coroner’s court heard today that one of the students accused of bullying Zara Qairina Mahathir took 19 days of sick leave before eventually transferring out of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha.
Head warden Azhari Abd Sagap, the eighth witness, testified that the mother of student A sent him two medical certificates via WhatsApp.
“On July 28, she sent a medical certificate covering July 28 to Aug 4. On Aug 7, she sent another certificate covering Aug 8 to Aug 18,” Azhari said in response to questioning from lawyer Joan Goh, who represented one of the students accused.
He added that student A’s mother also asked for leave on July 26, saying her child was traumatised after alleged harassment by Zara’s mother via WhatsApp. She warned that action would be taken if her child’s name continued to be mentioned. Azhari said he advised her to report the matter to the investigating officer.
The inquest, presided by coroner Amir Shah Hassan, will resume next Monday with testimonies from student witnesses.
Yesterday, Azhari told the court that one of the students charged on Aug 20 with verbally abusing Zara was no longer staying in the same dormitory due to trauma. Aside from student A, the other four accused students remain at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, where they received counselling and gave statements.
Zara, 13, died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, a day after being found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel at 4am.
