Death of student in Sabah: Three senior cops to be quizzed in Zara Qairina case
Sign up now: Get insights on the biggest stories in Malaysia
Participants holding placards during a Solidarity for Zara Qairina rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Aug 15.
PHOTO: EPA
Follow topic:
KUALA LUMPUR - A team from the Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (Jips) will soon travel to Sabah to take statements from three senior police officers involved in the preliminary investigation into the death of a 13-year-old student.
On July 17, Zara Qairina Mahathir was confirmed dead at a hospital in Kota Kinabalu, after she was found unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, in Papar, at about 4am on July 16.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the department has opened a disciplinary investigation paper into the district police chief, the district criminal investigation division chief and an investigating officer.
They are suspected of non-compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the investigation into the case.
“The Bukit Aman Jips officers will travel there within a day or two to record statements from these three officers. The investigation concerns non-compliance with SOPs in the Zara Qairina case and the supervision of investigating officers,” Tan Sri Ayob Khan told reporters on Aug 15.
He said strict action would be taken against any investigating officers and supervisors found to have violated the SOPs.
Mr Ayob Khan added that the three senior officers involved are currently continuing to carry out their duties as usual.
At a press conference on Aug 13, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director M. Kumar said that the initial findings of a task force investigation had found elements of non-compliance with investigation procedures during the early probe into the death of the girl. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWOR
