Zara inquest: DNA samples from hostel barrier railing degraded, unanalysable

 

As of mid-April, the authorities had received 29 police reports against the teen, with identified victims including children as young as 12. — Pexels photo

KOTA KINABALU (Oct 13): The Coroner’s Court here heard that DNA samples taken from the barrier railings of the third-floor corridor of Zara Qairina Mahathir’s hostel block were of poor quality and unsuitable for analysis.

The 83rd deponent Insp Wong Yew Zhung, who is the case investigating officer, also testified that dusting techniques on the corridor iron grilles found no fingerprints could be lifted due to the rough and rusted surface.

Wong told Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan that both the swab collection and dusting techniques were conducted on July 23, 2025 at 9.36am, while the swab samples were submitted for analysis on July 24, 2025 at 10.45am.

The witness said that on July 29, 2025, he received the DNA analysis chemistry report under laboratory number 25-FR-S-04127, prepared by a science officer from the Chemistry Department of Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu.

In his witness statement, Wong said he revisited the scene of the incident for forensic examination purposes with a team from the D10 Division (Forensics) of the Sabah Police Headquarters (IPK Sabah) led by Insp Mohamad Alif Mohd Razali.

“DNA swab samples were taken from the iron railings of the third-floor corridor by the D10 team for DNA comparison analysis by the Chemistry Department.

“Additionally, the D10 team also conducted dusting techniques on the corridor iron grilles,” said the witness.

On July 16, 2025, 13-year-old Zara was found unconscious below her hostel building and was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following day.

Zara’s remains were exhumed on Aug 9, 2025, and a post-mortem examination was conducted at the hospital’s Forensic Medicine Department on Aug 10.

On Aug 20, 2025, five minors, given the pseudonyms Students A, B, C, D, and E were charged in the Court for Children with insulting Zara.

The inquest will resume on Oct 14. - borneopost