Assault or accident? Sept 27 - verdict on Adib inquest

INQUEST | The Shah Alam Sessions Court will deliver its verdict on the inquest into the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim on Sept 27, announced coroner Rofiah Mohamad this afternoon.

The inquest has been carried out over a period of five months, starting Feb 11, with 30 witnesses taking the stand.

Adib, 24, died on Dec 17 last year after succumbing to his injuries sustained during the riot outside the Seafield Maha Mariamman temple a month earlier.

The inquest heard experts disagreeing on whether the firefighter's injuries were due to being assaulted or resulted from an accident involving the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) vehicle as it reversed in an attempt to evade an advancing mob.

"After studying all testimonies, (I find) that there is nothing more to be delved into (by the inquest).

"The court fixes this Sept 27 at 10am as the date to announce the finding," she said.

On July 24, Rofiah closed the inquest after proceedings were carried out for 41 days to identify the cause behind Adib's death.

She had then set today's date for parties in the inquest to submit their documents.

With Rofiah's decision today, the court has rejected an application by inquest handling officer Faten Hadni Khairuddin, who suggested the coroner's court call another pathologist as expert witness to testify in the inquest.

She had earlier announced that the court was satisfied with testimonies given by witnesses who had been called before the court.

Throughout the 41 days of its proceedings, the inquest saw a total of 30 witnesses, including several expert witnesses, called to testify to assist the court in making its findings.

Adib, who was attached to the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Station, sustained serious injuries in the riot before he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN) on Dec 17.

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