Forensic experts testified on June 24 and 25 about evidence of tampering and mixed authorship in journals linked to Malaysian political figure Zara Qairina Mahathir [1, 2, 3, 4].
A forensic examination confirmed that hundreds of pages were removed from the torn 'Love and Peace' diary WK9, specifically torn pages Y1 to Y15 [1, 4, 5]. Expert Dr Linthini Gannetion said, "the removal of pages, differences in ink types in certain parts, the presence of obliterated writings, and differences in the dating pattern of certain pages meant that elements of tampering in Y1 to Y15 cannot be conclusively ruled out" [1]. However, she cautioned that obliterations might have been done by the original writer, stating, "The mere presence of obliteration does not automatically mean another person tampered with the document" [3].
Dr Linthini also noted varied tearing methods and inconsistent handwriting across the disputed pages, raising questions about multiple authorship. She testified that parts of journals W2 and W3 displayed multiple handwriting patterns, suggesting others may have written alongside or accessed the diaries [2, 6]. Still, she acknowledged limitations in conclusively attributing authorship, saying, "I leave it as indeterminate" due to insufficient contemporaneous handwriting samples from Zara's adolescence [3, 5]. Zara's handwriting was described as volatile and still developing between 2023 and 2025, adding complexity to verifying writers [7, 6].
A handwriting expert confirmed that copying handwriting over many pages is difficult, making forgery unlikely. "I wouldn’t say it’s impossible, but I would rather say it’s difficult because the speed of execution, the pen pressure, the skill level will all be different," Dr Linthini said [4].
Several distressing diary entries dated June 17, 2025, expressing mental health struggles, were confirmed to be in Zara's own handwriting, including pleas such as, "My mental strength is not strong. It is better if I just die if this is how my life is meant to be" [8, 5].
A blood stain on loose page Y8A, linked to Zara, does not definitively prove her handwriting on that page, according to Dr Linthini: "If the blood is hers, it doesn’t mean that the handwriting belongs to her" [9].
The torn 'Love and Peace' diary originally had 106 ruled pages, while a new compiled book contains 228 ruled pages [1]. Handwriting questions were examined on 68 pages in document W2 and 103 pages in W3 [2].
The forensic testimony reflected disagreements on authorship of disputed torn pages Y1A to Y10A, with some experts unable to conclusively rule out other writers, but no definitive proof of others' involvement [2, 6, 3, 5].
Further hearings are scheduled as investigation into the journals continues, aiming to clarify unresolved questions around authorship and document integrity.
