Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun has assured the public that police will conduct a comprehensive investigation into claims circulating online prior to a tragic death of 13-year-old student Zara Qairina Mahathir.
This comes after viral posts on social media suggested that she was put inside a washing machine at her school before being placed on the drain at the hostel block.
In TikTok, a woman under a name of SHA_Abrienda claimed that the body of Zara was put inside a washing machine before being placed near the drain of SMK Agama Tun Mustapha where she was found unconscious at 3am.
The woman speaking live also claimed that Zara, a school prefect, was beaten by the group of senior who were unhappy that she wrote their names for not performing prayers.
Jauteh said police are aware of such speculations and are treating the matter seriously.
“We will first verify what is being said by the netizens. Let the police conduct a thorough investigation on this,” he told Daily Express when contacted, Wednesday.
Asked if the washing machine claim would be part of the investigation, he said it would be taken into account.
The case has sparked widespread concern online, with many calling for a transparent and swift investigation.
Police have urged the public not to speculate and to allow the investigation to proceed without interference.
Zara is believed to have been bullied. She died the following day in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (July 17).
Meanwhile, lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri, who represent Zara Qairina Mahathir’s family, called on those with solid information to come forward and assist the police investigation into her death, rather than spread speculation in social media.
“Allow police to investigate. Have faith in them, although they made mistakes at the early stage for not conducting the post-mortem and taking the clothing worn by Zara when she was found unconscious,” they said.
About the new claims, the lawyers said they did not know where the person/s got the information. They said it was definitely not from Zara’s mother.
The legal team also raised legal concerns over the distribution of students’ photos as well as sharing of personal information and negative statements about them.
They said such actions may constitute criminal offences under Section 15 of the Child Act 2001, and Sections 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“The release of student name lists containing personal data was also deemed a breach of Section 130 of the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and Section 233(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. We urge that dissemination of such content be stopped immediately. Those who have posted the materials are requested to remove them without delay,” said the lawyers.
