Teens often hide their pain — but diaries can tell another story, Zara Qairina inquest told

KOTA KINABALU, May 22 — A consultant forensic psychiatrist has told the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir that her diary was a safe space to express true emotions.

Dr Chua Sze Hung, 43, told Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan that Zara’s diary contained truthful and genuine expressions.

“It is the raw private unfiltered psychological skeleton; it is the objective ‘living’ archive of her. It is an invaluable documentary evidence and personal artefact.

“In the forensic and psychological investigation, verbal interaction alone is a less accurate indicator of internal mental state given that adolescents tend to mask their distress and to conform frequently. They would present as outwardly pleasant and there is a risk of presenting the false self.

“In contrast, the diary, it is the truth, genuine self-representation; free of social psychological interpersonal pressure and judgment. Then it is a raw, private, unfiltered self,” Dr Chua testified.

To a question from conducting officer Dacia Jane Romanus, the witness said that None Suicidal Self Injury (NSSI) or Barcode is a mild adaptive, emotion regulation strategy used for the purpose of regulating psychological distress, where those without psychological distress are unlikely to resort to it.

To another question, the witness further testified that psychological autopsy for adolescents is uniquely different from adults, as for the latter the focus would be the family members, spouse, colleagues, and friends.

“In adolescents, the main bulk of the informants should be the peers. I understand that these three family members (Zara’s aunty, uncle, and cousin) are not live-in family members, and encounters are occasional and cross sectional.”

Zara, 13, was found unconscious under her dormitory building on July 16, 2025 and died the next day in hospital.

On Aug 20, 2025, five minors, who were given the pseudonyms Student A, B, C, D, and E, were charged with using insulting words against Zara, with the court case currently ongoing.

The inquest continues today. — The Borneo Post