'They appeared to be punching, stomping something on the ground'

INQUEST | A witness claimed today that he saw some 30 people forming a circle after the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) vehicle that firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim was in left the scene of the riot outside the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple.

Nassaruddin Abdullah alleged that the group was hurling profanities, while five of six people appeared to be punching, kicking and stomping something on the ground.

"Then I heard someone shout 'Police! Police!' and the crowd fled the scene,” he said to questions from inquest conducting officer Hamdan Hamzah.

He also said he first noticed the EMRS van as it was about to leave the scene, with its sliding door detached, and a light from inside the vehicle.

Nassaruddin is the 17th witness to testify at the inquest to determine Adib's cause of death.

Initially, authorities claimed the firefighter, who died on Dec 17, had succumbed to injuries he sustained when assaulted during the Nov 27 riot.

Nassaruddin, who demonstrated the various punching and kicking motions, said the alleged assault lasted for about a minute. He added, however, that he did not see if any in the mob were armed.

Nassaruddin, who spoke in Tamil and addressed the inquest through an interpreter, said he was also unsure if the mob had encircled a person.

"I am not sure whether there was someone (in the middle of the circle)... they were hurling profanities and shouting 'How dare you enter the temple?'"

The unemployed 22-year-old said he went to the temple that night on his mother's motorcycle with a friend whom he identified as 'Karthik'.

After the mob dispersed, Nassaruddin said he had looked around for his friend, and then spotted several people carrying an individual wearing firefighter's pants.

The inquest before Coroner Rofiah Mohamad previously heard how bystanders had crowded around an injured firefighter who was later taken to Sime Darby Ramsay Medical Centre in a Toyota Hilux belonging to a passer-by in the area.

There were also alleged cries of "Jangan pukul bomba!" heard at the scene.

Adib's colleagues from the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Department in their testimonies had narrated a scene of chaos from the moment they arrived on site at 1.12am to put out a burning car near the temple.

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