Stressful interrogations, isolation directly contributed to Zara Qairina’s alleged suicide, expert testifies

KOTA KINABALU, May 22 — The Coroner’s Court here yesterday heard that stressful interrogations by senior students and the subsequent isolation of Zara Qairina Mahathir had directly contributed to her alleged suicide.

Consultant forensic psychologist Dr Chua Sze Hung said it was his opinion that the actions of the seniors the night before Zara was found underneath the school dormitory building were direct factors, when he concluded in his psychological autopsy report that her death was most likely a suicide.

“I would like to highlight that the perceived child-parent conflict is not a direct factor in this suicide. It is one of the many predisposing factors, or known as indirect factors.

“The direct factor here, in my opinion, is the stressful interrogations and the isolation that night or the following morning,” said the 67th witness before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

Asked by conducting officer Dacia Jane Romanus to further explain the nature of a parent-child conflict, Dr Chua said it is inaccurate and commonly misunderstood that a child-parent conflict is something that happens 24/7.

“The pervasiveness of the perceived child-parent conflict is unclear. I would like to highlight as well that I believe that in a normal human relationship, there will be moments of genuine affection,” he said. — The Borneo Post