Kuala Lampur, Sept. 17 -- KOTA KINABALU, Sept 17 - The head warden of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha told the Coroner's Court that he had instructed hostel wardens to restrict the use of public telephones "only for a day" on July 16, to prevent unverified news from spreading and to avoid worrying parents.

Testifying on the eighth day of the inquest, 31-year-old Azhari Abdul Sagap said he had sent a message in a WhatsApp group with wardens and security guards instructing them not to allow students to make phone calls on the day 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir was found unconscious at the school dormitory.

"I told the warden WhatsApp group personally, I said 'haramkan pelajar membuat panggilan telefon hari ini' (forbid students from making phon...