Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director M Kumar said Zara’s death occurred under suspicious circumstances, in which a post-mortem was warranted.
He said the post-mortem results were consistent with the initial diagnosis that Zara died from brain injuries caused by a fall.
“Although Zara’s mother had signed a statutory declaration declining a post-mortem, the investigating officer should have applied for one,” Kumar told a press conference at Bukit Aman police headquarters.
He said the investigating officer and his superior would be referred to Bukit Aman’s integrity and standard compliance department for not following procedure by ordering a post-mortem.
A task force from the Bukit Aman CID had been sent to Sabah to take over the investigation.
He also said that the ongoing investigations will run concurrently with the inquest ordered by the Attorney-General’s Chambers into Zara’s death earlier today.
Zara was found unconscious at 4am on July 16 after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school hostel in Papar, Sabah. She died at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital the following day.
Her mother, Noraidah Lamat, lodged a police report on Aug 3, saying she noticed bruises on her daughter’s back when preparing the body for burial.
Kumar said the ongoing investigation by the task force in Sabah had uncovered elements suggesting that Zara may have been a victim of bullying before her death.
He said police have recorded statements from 82 individuals.
He also revealed that 124 students had undergone counselling following the incident.
On a related matter, Kumar said a 39-year-old woman was arrested in Rawang last week for spreading false information about the case after claiming that Zara had been forced into a washing machine.
The woman has since been released on police bail.
He also said police have opened 15 investigation papers related to the dissemination of false information about the case.
He warned that unverified claims could disrupt public order and interfere with the investigation.