KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 8): The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has directed the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to exhume the body of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir to allow a post-mortem procedure to be carried out.
In a statement today, the AGC said it had reviewed the full preliminary investigation report submitted by the police regarding Zara Qairina’s death.
“The Chambers is of the view that there is a need for further investigation to be carried out by PDRM to ensure that all aspects of the case can be thoroughly examined.
“The full preliminary investigation report has been returned to PDRM together with several directives, including the need to exhume Zara Qairina’s body to allow a post-mortem to be conducted,” it said.
It said the move is intended to ensure that the police obtain additional information and evidence needed to complete the investigation into Zara Qairina’s death.
On Monday, the AGC said it had received the full preliminary investigation report on the case on Aug 3 at its Sabah Branch and on Aug 4 at its headquarters in Putrajaya.
Noraidah Lamat had earlier called for her daughter’s body be exhumed to allow a post-mortem to determine the actual cause of death.
She is also urging the Attorney General to initiate an inquest into the death.
Through her lawyers, Noraidah called on the Attorney General to invoke Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code and direct a magistrate to hold the inquest.
Lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri said an inquest was necessary to establish the cause of death and determine if any criminal elements were involved.
Zara Qairina, 13, died at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17. She was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious and critically injured in a drain near her school dormitory in Papar at 4 am the previous day.
Noraidah had handed over her handphone while her lawyers also passed the clothes Zara Qairina wore when she was found to the police for investigation.
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