Four journals linked to the late Zara Qairina Mahathir were found to be incomplete during a forensic examination presented at the Coroner's Court in Kota Kinabalu on August 24, 2026. Dr Wan Nur Syuhaila Mat Desa testified the journals W1, W2, W3, and WK9 all lacked pages and showed signs of modification, with WK9 exhibiting notable alterations [1, 2, 3].

The four journals examined included W1 (green cover labelled "NOTES"), W2 (pastel purple "Simple Style Book"), W3 (dark brown "DIAMOND"), and WK9 (olive-green "Love and Peace") [1, 2, 3].

W1 contained 97 sheets compared to 98 sheets in a new reference journal, indicating 1 missing or torn sheet. W2 held only 53 sheets versus 96 in the reference, meaning 43 sheets were missing. W3 contained 77 sheets out of 98, showing 21 sheets were absent. WK9 was in a worn and torn state, with 54 sheets compared to 118 sheets in a new journal, resulting in 64 missing sheets [2, 3].

Physical examination included reconstruction of torn pages labeled Y1 to Y15, grouped mainly into two blocks: Y1 through Y9, and Y12 through Y15. WK9 had been altered—the original front free endpaper was torn out, while the rear free endpaper was removed and pasted onto the front cover [1, 2, 3].

The Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA) recovered indented impressions of writing on several pages of W2 and WK9. On W2, impressions were found on pages 51, 53, 67, and 100, with no matching pages physically present. On WK9, impressions were found on pages 1, 4, 7, 17, 37, 50, 51, and 53 that likewise lacked corresponding physical pages in the journal [1, 2, 3].

"My conclusion on the physical examination and reconstruction reveals that journals W1, W2, W3 and WK9 were incomplete at the time I examined them," Dr Wan said. Regarding W2 specifically, she added, "W2 only contained 53 sheets, meaning 43 sheets were missing" [1, 3].

The forensic findings were presented today as part of ongoing court proceedings at the Coroner's Court in Kota Kinabalu examining circumstances related to the late Zara Qairina Mahathir [1, 2, 3].