Kota kinabalu: The High Court has annulled an order by Coroner Azreena Aziz that allowed lawyers representing minors implicated in the bullying case of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir to attend her inquest, which is set to begin tomorrow. Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol made this decision following a revision application from the Sabah Law Society (SLS) and the legal representatives of Zara Qairina's family.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the court decided that all directives stemming from applications in the inquest were to be nullified. Nonetheless, the legal representatives can reapply before the new Coroner, Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan. This revision was prompted by SLS after Azreena included counsels for the child offenders as interested parties, but later recused herself from the proceedings.
The judge emphasized that Azreena's decision on a substantive issue was inappropriate after she had determined her inability to continue with the case. He noted that making such a determination would infringe on the new Coroner's role and compromise impartiality.
Today's proceedings were attended by State Prosecution director Nahra Dollah, along with deputy public prosecutors Mohd Fairuz Johari and Dacia Jane Romanus. The inquest is scheduled for several dates: Sept 3 to 4, Sept 8 to 12, Sept 17 to 19, and Sept 22 to 30.
Azreena, who also holds the position of Sabah State Court Director, withdrew from the case on Aug 28, citing her residence in Papar, the location of the religious school attended by Zara Qairina, although she asserted no familiarity with the alleged parties involved.
Zara Qairina, aged 13, was declared deceased at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, after being discovered unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory in Papar at 4 am on July 16. Following a review of the investigation report submitted by the police, the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) announced on Aug 13 that an inquest into her death would take place. Additionally, on Aug 8, the AGC ordered the exhumation of Zara Qairina's remains for a post-mortem examination.