Kota kinabalu: The Coroner's Court here today was told that Zara Qairina Mahathir had made a complaint regarding sexual harassment that allegedly occurred while she was sleeping in the dormitory room of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the school's assistant head of discipline, Nurul Syahadah Ibrahim, 38, stated that the disciplinary unit received the complaint on March 14, about a month after the student registered at the school. Nurul Syahadah testified that Zara Qairina had alleged sexual harassment by a Form Two student who she claimed had sniffed her private parts. However, the investigation concluded that the student had only sniffed the blanket before taking it to be washed, attributing the incident to a misunderstanding and playfulness without inappropriate intention.
"I personally asked the student to demonstrate how she sniffed the blanket," said Nurul Syahadah when questioned by lawyer Datuk Ram Singh, representing one of the accused in the Zara Qairina bullying case, at the inquest proceedings before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan. When asked if she believed the student's demonstration, she confirmed that she did, and also noted the need for additional evidence since Zara was allegedly asleep during the incident.
The testimony also addressed a claim involving a senior known as 'Kak M', who reportedly said, "If I touch you, you will bleed," after an incident where Zara Qairina and another student allegedly body-shamed 'Kak M's' younger sister. Nurul Syahadah clarified that the senior was not a gangster and that the body-shaming involved calling the younger sibling 'chipsmore' due to a mole on her mouth.
Nurul Syahadah confirmed the existence of the 'Circle 19' group at the school, whose members still attend the institution though they are prohibited from forming factions. While acknowledging the use of obscene language by the group, she expressed uncertainty about whether a police report should be filed.
In response, a visibly frustrated Ram Singh announced his intention to file a police report on the 'Circle 19' group to prevent further tragedy at the school. He later lodged the report at the Luyang Police Station and urged authorities to take action against the group and the school.
Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, a day after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory.