Lawyer Azhier Farhan Arisin, representing four children charged in the Zara Qairina Mahathir bullying case, said the matter was narrated by a senior student before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, Bernama reported.

Azhier said the 11th witness told the inquest her room was often used by these senior students because it was more spacious than the other rooms at the hostel.

“The witness recalled that Zara was once called up by senior students because of a problem related to a friend,” he told reporters at the end of the 21st day of the inquest. “According to the witness, Zara had befriended a senior student.”

Azhier said the witness also stated that she had met Zara two to three times in Zara’s room, and advised her not to do anything wrong.

“According to the witness, throughout her acquaintance with Zara, she had found her to be a good person who liked to greet people as well as share food,” he said.

Lawyer Rizwandean M Borhan, representing Zara’s mother, said the same witness also met other junior students to apologise on behalf of the senior students after they were called up by the group.

Recounting an incident on the night of July 15, the witness said  she heard from other students that Zara had been called up by the group of senior students on suspicion of theft at about 10pm to 11pm, Rizwandean said.

She was also told that other students had searched Zara’s locker to look for a missing item.

The witness said that as she passed through the corridor in front of Zara’s room after 11pm, she heard a junior student uttering abusive words.

“The witness also said she had heard from other students that Zara was locked in the toilet that night,” Rizwandean said.

Lawyer Joan Goh, who represents another teenager involved in the bullying case, said the witness claimed Zara was not beaten.

Zara, 13, was confirmed dead at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, on July 17 after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at 4am the previous day.

The inquest continues tomorrow.