Zara's mother refused post-mortem, investigating officer tells inquest
KOTA KINABALU: The late Zara Qairina Mahathir’s mother refused to allow a post-mortem examination despite receiving an explanation from police, the investigating officer told the Coroner’s Court.
On July 17, 2025, the mother of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir refused a post-mortem examination, despite being provided with an explanation by police. Inspector Wong Yew Zhung, the investigating officer, told the Coroner's Court that Zara Qairina died from severe traumatic brain injury with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. After informing her mother of the post-mortem examination, Inspector Wong received no cooperation, as Noraidah Lamat, her mother, insisted they "bury her immediately".
Consequently, no POL 61 form, the police request for a post-mortem examination, was issued. Noraidah also signed several documents on that day, including a Declaration of Voluntary Refusal of Post-Mortem Examination, acknowledging she did not suspect any criminal act in her daughter's death and would not request a post-mortem report.
On August 9, 2025, the investigating officer applied for an order to exhume Zara Qairina's body following instructions from the Attorney-General's Chambers. The exhumation was completed the same night, and the body was taken to the Forensic Department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for a post-mortem examination the following day.
The post-mortem findings confirmed the cause of death previously determined by Dr Jessie Hiu, showing that it was consistent with injuries sustained from a fall from height.
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