Kota Kinabalu: The legal team representing Noraidah Lamat, mother of Zara Qairina Mahathir, has distanced the family from a move by an NGO seeking to stop the ongoing inquest through a Judicial Review (JR) application.
In a statement on Monday, the team said they have yet to receive an official copy of the JR application and confirmed that the inquest will proceed as scheduled under the Coroner’s Court procedures.
They stressed that Noraidah never authorised or instructed any individual or organisation to file applications linked to the proceedings, declaring that any such action taken without the family’s mandate “does not reflect the family’s position and is not aligned with their interests.”
The team also reminded the public that the inquest is not delaying justice for Zara.
Instead, they said the proceedings have been crucial in establishing key facts before the juvenile criminal trial begins on Dec 8.
Among the issues clarified during the inquest were:
- The events of the night of July 15, including Zara’s emotional state before and after she was called by senior students.
- Matters concerning Zara’s diaries including the reading, copying, scanning, and sharing of their contents and the absence of a warden on duty that night.
- Testimony that Zara’s locker was searched for a spot-check without her presence.
According to the statement, these and other findings have been compiled in detailed inquest reports submitted ahead of the upcoming Children’s Court proceedings.
The legal team said it will continue monitoring developments to ensure the inquest is carried out professionally and without interference.
It was reported that on Nov 21, the NGO filed for a Judicial Review seeking to cancel the ongoing inquest.
