Saifuddin denies cover-ups in police action over Zara case

 

PARLIAMENT | Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail denied that there were any cover-ups or delays in police action over the tragic death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir in Sabah.

He acknowledged that there was non-compliance with some procedures, but stressed that this did not disrupt the investigation’s integrity.

“The accusation that there was an attempt to cover up this case, an attempt to manipulate (it), is a very serious accusation.

“It does not reflect the reality of the authorities’ actions from the beginning until now,” he told the Dewan Rakyat in a briefing over the issue today.

He added that the investigation has turned up elements of bullying, which prevents the case from being covered up due to the seriousness of the matter.

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“There can be no efforts or attempts to cover up if there is an element of bullying in school, the place which ought to be the safest place for our children,” he said.

Zara was found unconscious in a drain below her school dormitory in Papar on July 16 and died the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I in Kota Kinabalu.

Her death has sparked nationwide outrage, with many demanding accountability for the incident as well as stronger measures to counter bullying in educational institutions.

Police have since confirmed that a special task force from Bukit Aman will take over investigations into Zara’s death, while the Attorney-General’s Chambers has ordered an inquest into her death.

The directive for an inquest came after local authorities failed to perform an autopsy, which led to her remains being exhumed for a post-mortem following public uproar.

Lack of autopsy

Speaking on the lack of an autopsy, Saifuddin said Zara’s mother had denied one when informed of the need by the investigation officer at the time.

“The mother said she did not want to do it (autopsy). She wanted to speed up the burial,” he said.

He added that the mother then signed a letter acknowledging her refusal for Zara’s body to undergo an autopsy.

Saifuddin explained that this was the non-compliance by the police that he had referred to earlier.

“That has been reprimanded, and the police will take internal action,” he said. - Mkini