A teacher at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha expressed regret for not submitting documents that could have aided the police investigation into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir.
The 53rd witness, Nur Shukriah Mohd Fauzi, told the Coroner’s Court that she only realized the importance of providing the documents after her previous appearance in court last month. The testimony focused on student statements from the school’s internal investigation, which had been kept in-house.
“Since it was not requested, we did not want to interfere. But personally, I do feel guilty, and I feel it was my mistake,” Shukriah said when questioned by lawyer Farrah Nasser.
The disciplinary teacher added that school management had instructed staff not to disclose information about the incident to outsiders, including the police and Zara’s family. She had earlier told lawyer Clarice Vyonne Conrad that staff were following directives from superiors not to submit the internal investigation to authorities.
Shukriah explained that staff refrained from submitting the statements due to fears of bias, accusations of document tampering, or misinterpretation by others. When asked whether any Ministry of Education guideline prevented voluntary submission of documents to the police, she clarified that authorities could only receive such documents upon official request.
Both lawyers, Farrah and Clarice, represent Zara’s family. The inquest is scheduled to resume later.
