Former school official testifies no paid warden was on duty when Zara Qairina was found unconscious, revealing issues with supervision appointments
KOTA KINABALU: No hostel warden was on duty the night a student was found unconscious at her school, a coroner’s inquest heard today.
Former senior assistant for Student Affairs Asni Marjan, 56, testified that the state-appointed warden was also not on duty that day.
He confirmed the school administration had appointed several teachers as unpaid hostel supervisors.
Asni stated he was not consulted on the preparation of the monthly duty roster for these wardens and supervisors.
When questioned how unpaid teachers could perform a salaried warden’s duties, Asni replied it was “based on a sense of duty”.
He was uncertain whether the head hostel warden was appointed by the state or the school.
After being shown the appointment letter, Asni confirmed the head warden’s appointment was invalid as it was made by the school, not the state department.
A security guard previously testified she discovered the student after a alert and informed the head warden by phone.
Asni explained he monitored duties via a logbook but could not recall entries for the night of July 15.
He testified he did not go to the location after receiving a call from the head warden around 3.25 am on July 16.
Asni said he entrusted the warden to manage the situation and went directly to the hospital later.
“As I recall, I only went to the incident site on the third day,” he told the court.
He stated he focused on consoling the parents and met them nearly every day until his transfer.
Regarding the hostel phone being disconnected for 48 hours, Asni said he did not know who instructed it.
He said he was unaware of how many times an internal school investigation was carried out.
The only finding communicated to him related to meetings between the deceased and senior students.
Under cross-examination, Asni confirmed he met the victim’s mother at the hospital and during a condolence visit.
When asked if he informed the mother about the internal investigation, Asni replied, “No.”
“The case was, and remains, under investigation,” he said. “We had to proceed with caution.”
Zara Qairina, 13, died on July 17 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
She was admitted a day earlier after being found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel in Papar.
The Attorney General’s Chambers ordered her remains exhumed for a post-mortem on August 8.
A formal inquest into her death was announced on August 13.
The inquest proceedings will resume tomorrow. – Bernama
