Kota Kinabalu: The Coroner's Court on Wednesday ruled that the 76th deponent in the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir could not continue giving evidence following questions over her registration as a Child Clinical Psychologist under the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council (MAHPC) Act 2016.
Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan made the ruling after hearing objections and submissions from the conducting officer and all interested parties involved in the inquest.
In his decision, the coroner said the objection raised by the conducting officer was sustained in part and that, without prejudice to Dr Noor Aishah Rosli's academic or empirical expertise, she would not be permitted to provide further expert opinion in the proceedings.
He ruled that Noor Aishah's oral testimony and documentary evidence already tendered, including Exhibit I-299, would remain on the record, while the legal status of the exhibit and the weight to be attached to her evidence would be determined after further submissions at the close of the inquest.
The coroner also ordered that the inquest resume at 9am on Thursday with the recall of the 75th deponent.
On Tuesday, Noor Aishah acknowledged during the inquest that she was not registered as a Child Clinical Psychologist under the MAHPC Act 2016 after being questioned by conducting officer Nahrah Dollah on the matter.
Noor Aishah maintained that she practises under her registration with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors, while the conducting officer's team and counsel representing the five teenagers facing proceedings in the Court for Children in connection with Zara's case objected to her continuing her testimony.
