Kota kinabalu: The Coroner's Court here has set Sept 3 to commence inquest proceedings for Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir. Coroner Azreena Aziz today scheduled the proceedings to run from Sept 3 to 4, Sept 8 to 12, Sept 17 to 19, and Sept 22 to 30.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Conducting Officer Mohd Fairus Johari, who is also a Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP), mentioned that the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) had applied for an inquiry into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina. He stated that 195 witnesses are involved in the case, but the final witness list will be determined before the inquest begins. Azreena requested that the witness list be finalized at least two days before the start of proceedings.

Other Conducting Officers involved in the case are Dana Arabi Wazani, Afiq Agoes, and Dacia Jane Romanus, all of whom are also DPPs. Zara Qairina was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, after being admitted following her discovery unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar at 4 am on July 16.

In a statement last Wednesday, the AGC announced an inquest would take place following a review of the investigation report submitted by the police. On Aug 8, the AGC revealed that the body of Zara Qairina would be exhumed for a post-mortem examination. The exhumation at the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery, Kampung Mesapol, Sipitang, was completed at 7.15 pm on Aug 9.