Papar: A senior student, who is also a member of the Da’wah and Spiritual Body (Badar) at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar, told the Coroner’s Court here today that she was aware that other students mocked Zara Qairina Mahathir of ‘Sok Sok Badar’ (‘pretending to be Badar’).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the testimony was given by the 23rd child witness, also a hostel resident in the same hostel block as Zara Qairina, on the 29th day of the inquest proceedings into the teenager’s death before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan today.

Sharing the testimony of the child witness, lawyer Rizwandean M Borhan, who is representing Zara Qairina’s mother, said the witness told the court that the teasing began when Zara Qairina started recording the names of students who did not perform prayers, although no one had instructed the Form One student to do so.

“The witness said she would remain silent and never told Zara Qairina to stop writing down the names,’ Rizwandean told reporters after the proceedings.

The lawyer said the witness explained that the duties of Badar members are to manage the dakwah and surau programmes, as well as religious-related programmes, including questioning students who failed to perform their prayers, and recording the names of students who did not give valid reasons.