Kota Kinabalu: A MOTHER of Student A told the Coroner’s Court that following the incident involving Zara Qairina Mahathir, her daughter has continued to face public criticism until today, with some people even calling her a “murderer”.
The 62nd deponent said the family came under intense pressure from netizens during the week her daughter was charged.
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“Our child’s name and personal details were widely circulated on social media.
“People tried to track her whereabouts. Every time we left or returned home, others seemed to know our movements.
“Throughout this period, my child continued to be criticised by the public, and some even labelled her a murderer,” she said in an emotional voice while reading her witness statement before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Student A is among five students charged in the Court for Children in connection with the Zara incident.
The mother further testified that she was deeply distressed when her daughter’s statement to the police was leaked and her child was accused of fabricating the story.
According to the deponent, the statements were matters Zara had confided in her daughter, whom she trusted as a safe place to express her feelings.
“Everything my daughter saw and witnessed was fully narrated to the police.
“My child never betrayed Zara. Their friendship was sincere, and I accepted that friendship wholeheartedly.
“However, there were parties who were afraid of this statement and forced me to change it.
“As a result, my child was dragged into accusations, her dignity trampled, insulted and subjected to various allegations.
“Even today, my child is still being accused of being a murderer at her new school.
“My child broke down in tears when recounting the incident.
“They prefer fabricated stories and are afraid of the truth,” she said.
She also told the court that a statement by a school security guard, Aunty Linah, claiming that Student A was not traumatised because she made a peace sign, had drawn criticism from netizens.
The deponent said Aunty Linah had wrongly informed the court that she went to the hostel on the night of July 17 to fetch her daughter.
“In fact, that night I only called the warden, Cikgu Fatimah, to ask whether we were allowed to take our child home. The answer was no,” she said.
She also told the coroner that she was deeply upset over the irresponsible actions of certain parties who had excessively exploited and circulated images of her child and Zara.
“I believe the viral images came from parties on both my side and the other side. I consider such actions malicious and done with the intent of gambling with my child’s future,” she said.
She further informed the court that she had lodged 12 police reports in connection with the Zara incident.
The deponent also said her child continued to face accusations after enrolling in a new school.
“A few days after registering at the new school, while my child was in class, a student stared at her, made faces and labelled her a murderer.
“In another incident, when my child was on stage to receive a prize for securing first place, several students also shouted ‘murderer’ at her,” she said.
