Zara's body exhumed for post-mortem today

SIPITANG (Aug 9): The body of Zara Qairina Mahathir was exhumed at the Kampung Mesapol Muslim cemetery in Sipitang amid the evening drizzle for a post-mortem to determine the cause of her death which sparked rallies around the state.

The post-mortem is scheduled to be carried out at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu at 9am on Sunday.

Around 60 family members were present at the cemetery, with some arriving as early as 3pm to witness the exhumation which was ordered by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Some of them were said to have come from as far as Brunei, Selangor and Labuan.

Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lama, father and other close family members were escorted by police and reached the location at around 4.56pm.

They were accompanied by lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri.

Members of the public also turned up and waited outside the police perimeter, around 100 metres away from the site, to show solidarity.

Also present were State Islamic Religious Department (Jheains) officers to ensure that the remains were accorded due respect and handled in a manner consistent with Islamic principles and the dignity of the deceased.

The exhumation process commenced at around 5.30pm, as a forensics team equipped in personal rotective equipment entered the grave site.

Magistrate Wan Farrah Farizza Wan Ghazali, Noraidah and Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu witnessed the exhumation which was completed at 7.15pm.

According to the deceased’s relatives, around six members of the cemetery committee were involved in the exhumation.

At around 7.38pm, the vehicle ferrying Zara’s immediate family left  the cemetery for Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Zara’s grandmother, Asnah Yusof Abdullah, 76, and grandfather, Hashim Tuah, 82, as well as Sabah mufti, Datuk Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar and Papar police chief, Superintendent Kamaruddin Ambo Sakka were also at the scene.

When met, Asnah and Hashim expressed hope that the case investigation will proceed smoothly and the truth uncovered.

Hasim said the last time he met his granddaughter was during her birthday celebration last year. She was a quiet and diligent child who was dedicated to reading the Quran and performing prayers.

“That meeting became my last memory with her,” he said.

Earlier, a large crowd gathered at the cemetery despite the rain, to witness the exhumation.

Those carrying umbrellas were prevented from entering the cemetery to ensure the process proceeded smoothly.

The Royal Malaysia Police forensic team arrived at the cemetery at 4.56pm.

The Magistrate’s Court on Saturday granted an application by the police to exhume the body of Zara Qairina.

The hearing took place at the Papar District Police Headquarters before magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa.

Earlier on Saturday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Royal Malaysia Police will exhume the body of the Form One student as soon as possible to complete the investigation into her death.

He said this followed instructions issued by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) on Friday for the exhumation to allow a post-mortem procedure to be carried out.

“The police will implement the decision. I was briefed by the Inspector-General of Police (Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail) this morning that the police will immediately carry out the procedure.

“Of course, the focus by the police is to update the investigation, collect all evidence and in carrying out this task, the police will not compromise on the principle of justice because we need to be fair to everyone involved, including the family of the late Zara and the school,” he said.

Saifuddin Nasution assured that the police will keep the public informed with the latest updates on the case from time to time.

In a statement on Friday, the Attorney General’s Chambers announced that the body of Zara Qairina would be exhumed to allow a post-mortem examination to be conducted.

The AGC stated that further investigations by the police were necessary to ensure all aspects of the case were thoroughly examined.

Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu on July 17. She had been rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of a religious school in Papar at about 4am on July 16.