The inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim came to a close today, but the coroner’s ruling is only expected to be delivered sometime after Aug 21.
The inquest, which begin in March, saw 30 witnesses being called to testify and more than 100 exhibits tendered in court.
Among the key highlights during the 41 days of proceedings was a dispute between Kuala Lumpur Hospital pathologist Dr Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi and retired Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital pathologist Dr Shahrom Abdul Wahid.
Initial reports claimed that he had been assaulted by a group of rioters. However, this has yet to be established.
SHAH ALAM: The inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim came to a close today, but the coroner’s ruling is only expected to be delivered sometime after Aug 21.
This comes after judge Rofiah Mohammad, who acted as coroner during the inquest, fixed that date as deadline for written submissions from all parties involved.
However, she did not fix a date to deliver her decision.
Rofiah had decided to wrap up proceedings, saying that she was satisfied with the testimonies of the witnesses.
“I have decided not to call any more witnesses. Therefore, I invite all parties to file their respective submissions to assist the court in making a decision,” she said.
Counsel Taufiq Baharum, who represented Adib’s family, agreed to do so.
However, senior federal counsel Suzana Atan, representing the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Fire and Rescue Department, said they were still undecided as to whether to file a submission.
The inquest, which begin in March, saw 30 witnesses being called to testify and more than 100 exhibits tendered in court.
Among the key highlights during the 41 days of proceedings was a dispute between Kuala Lumpur Hospital pathologist Dr Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi and retired Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital pathologist Dr Shahrom Abdul Wahid.
Their dispute started when Dr Hafizam testified that injuries sustained by Adib were not consistent with those resulting from being kicked or punched.
He also ruled out the possibility that Adib had been pulled out from the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) van on the night of the incident as there were no bruises or marks on the left side of his body.
However, Dr Shahrom claimed that the pathologist had come up with an incorrect hypothesis in the post-mortem report about how Adib sustained his injuries.
He also dismissed the findings made in the report which concluded that Adib could have voluntarily alighted from the EMRS vehicle and was hit on his back by the EMRS door before being hurled, and ending up on a road kerb.
Dr Shahrom had said there would not have been enough force to break Adib’s ribs, eventually causing his death.
Dr Shahrom argued that Adib could have been pulled out of the van and that several people might have kicked the door, hitting Adib with enough force to break his bones.
Adib, 24, was reported to have been critically injured during an incident when he and a team of firemen answered a distress call about a vehicle on fire outside the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya on Nov 27.
Initial reports claimed that he had been assaulted by a group of rioters. However, this has yet to be established.
Accidentally left behind by his teammates, Adib was taken to Subang Jaya Medical Centre and later transferred to the National Heart Institute. Despite showing signs of recovery, he died on Dec 17.
Source:
