3 senior cops to be questioned over non-compliance in Zara death probe

3 senior cops to be questioned over non-compliance in Zara death probe

KUALA LUMPUR: A team from the Bukit Aman integrity and standards compliance department (JIPS) will soon travel to Sabah to record statements from three senior police officers involved in the preliminary investigation into the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.

Deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the department has opened a disciplinary investigation paper against a district police chief, a district criminal investigation division (CID) chief, and an investigating officer (IO). 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,” he said.

He said this to reporters after the launch of the book “Antologi Puisi Makan Sua”p’ at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, last night.

Ayob Khan said strict action would be taken against any investigating officers and supervisors found to have violated the investigation SOPs.

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He added that, so far, the three senior officers involved are continuing to carry out their duties as usual.

Last Wednesday, Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director M Kumar, at a press conference, said that the initial findings of the Bukit Aman Special Task Force investigation found elements of non-compliance with investigation procedures during the early probe into the death of Zara Qairina.

Zara was found unconscious at 4am on July 16 after she allegedly fell from the third floor of her school’s hostel in Papar, Sabah. She died at the Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu the next day.