Kota Kinabalu: A geography teacher at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha told the Coroner’s Court that Zara Qairina Mahathir had no disciplinary record linked to any theft case.
Mohd Sham M Nasir, 27, testified that throughout the period he taught Zara’s class, he had neither heard of nor was aware that Zara had ever been subjected to any disciplinary action for theft.
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The 61st deponent gave his testimony before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan on Friday during the inquest into the cause of Zara’s death.
Mohd Sham also said that during his tenure as a teacher in Zara’s class, incidents involving missing students’ money were not common.
He added that apart from the spot check conducted on July 14, 2025, he had never carried out any other spot checks related to reports of missing money in that class.
Mohd Sham confirmed that there was no written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing the conduct of spot checks in classrooms.
He said the action taken on the day in question was based on his own consideration as the subject teacher who was teaching at the time.
Mohd Sham explained that prior to conducting the spot check, he had specifically asked the student who reported the loss of money about the amount and form of the missing cash.
He was informed that the money involved was a single RM20 note.
Mohd Sham further said that discussions about the alleged theft linked to Zara took place in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the classroom, and based on Zara’s seating position, he believed that she would have been able to hear the conversation, even though her name was not mentioned directly.
With regard to Zara’s reaction, Mohd Sham said she appeared to show no unusual outward response.
However, he agreed with the coroner that it would not be normal for someone who heard allegations made against themselves to appear completely unaffected.
After the class ended and as he was leaving the classroom, Mohd Sham said he was standing outside near the entrance when he was approached by about three female students, including Student A, who repeated the accusations against Zara.
He stressed that he once again advised the students not to make accusations without evidence before leaving the area.
Mohd Sham confirmed that he was not involved in the school’s internal investigation into the incident involving Zara and that he was never instructed to carry out any hostel monitoring on the night of the incident.
However, he confirmed that an emergency school administrative meeting was held on July 17, 2025, attended by the principal, members of the administration, the Discipline Unit and teachers.
During the meeting, Mohd Sham said he had informed those present about the spot check conducted on July 14, 2025, as discussions concerning Zara were ongoing, but he could not recall in detail other matters that were discussed.
In response to a question, he said he was not sure whether, during the meeting, any teachers, particularly the principal or PK HEM, had prevented Zara’s mother from being informed about what had happened to her.
Trial continues on Monday.
