A teacher admitted a key report on Zara Qairina’s case was never shown to the principal or authorities, being kept confidential within the school’s disciplinary unit.
KOTA KINABALU: A teacher testified that an internal investigation report into the Zara Qairina case was never submitted to the school principal or any external authorities.
Assistant head of discipline Nurul Syahadah Ibrahim, 38, told the Coroner’s Court the report was instead kept in a special file within the school’s disciplinary unit.
She confirmed the document was not provided to the District Education Office, State Education Department, Ministry of Education, police, or even the school principal herself.
Under questioning from lawyer Clarice Vyone Conrad, representing Zara Qairina’s father, the witness agreed the principal should have been informed regardless of circumstances.
“Yes, that’s right. The principal needs to be informed even if it’s a minor case,” said the 54th witness in the death inquest proceedings before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Nurul Syahadah attributed this failure to her own mistake, explaining the disciplinary unit treated the report as confidential internal documentation.
She stated the principal’s subsequent absence from the school contributed to the report not being handed over personally.
When pressed about the report being dated July 16 and 17 while the principal was still present, the witness admitted overlooking this duty.
“It’s true, this is a serious case, but at that time we were really struggling with our respective duties and roles,” she explained.
The witness maintained the report was intended solely for school internal records rather than authorities.
She acknowledged she would likely have surrendered the document if formally requested by police.
The internal investigation was conducted across multiple dates in July and August, involving several students including five individuals reportedly the last to see Zara Qairina.
Proceedings were shortened due to the Sabah state election and will continue on Monday.
Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17 after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory.
