KOTA KINABALU – The Coroner’s Court is told that a total of 15 mobile phones and SIM cards were analysed as part of the investigation into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, focusing on social media data, communications, as well as videos and images, including deleted files.
Police Computer Crime Investigation Unit analyst ASP Mohamad Zaidi Abu Hassan said the analysis involved two batches of case materials received from the Papar District Police Headquarters in Sabah, the first on Aug 8 comprising 11 mobile phones, and the second on Aug 19, 2025 involving four devices.
"For the first batch received on Aug 8, the analysis began on Aug 11.
“For the second batch received on Aug 19, 2025, the analysis started the following day, Aug 20,” he said when responding to additional questions from deputy public prosecutor Sofia S. Sawayan before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
He stressed that the first batch required a longer analysis period due to the higher volume of devices.
"I needed about six days for the first batch, while the second batch took around three days,” he said.
Zaidi added that each device underwent a comprehensive forensic process, including simultaneous data extraction from mobile phones, SIM cards and memory cards, contributing to the time required for analysis.
With nearly 19 years of experience in digital forensics, he said he had handled more than 7,000 cases involving approximately 100,000 digital exhibits throughout his career.
The analysis was conducted using XRY forensic tools in accordance with international standards, including ISO 17025 and guidelines set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Zara Qairina, 13, died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at about 4am.
On Aug 13, 2025, the Attorney General’s Chambers ordered an inquest after reviewing the police investigation report.
Earlier, on Aug 8, 2025, the Attorney General’s Chambers had also directed that her grave be exhumed to facilitate a post-mortem.
The inquest proceedings continue this afternoon. – BERNAMA