updated version

A doctor told a Suhakam inquiry today that a participant of the "100,000 People's Gathering" on Nov 5 at the Kesas Highway suffered a fractured skull after being hit by a tear-gas canister.

Dr K Jayaratnam of the Selangor Medical Centre, Shah Alam, told the three-member commission that Shaiful Khairy Kamarulzaman also developed soft tissue swelling as a result of the injury.

"He had a blunt trauma in the right temporal area of the skull. He also vomited three times and it was blood-stained," said Jayaratnam.

"After seeing him, I sent him to the intensive care unit for further treatment."

Jayaratnam added that Shaiful was suffering from giddiness.

Shaiful had testified before the inquiry on Dec 11 last year that he sustained head injuries due to a tear-gas canister fired directly at him during the gathering, organised by opposition party Keadilan.

He was among the 10,000-odd people on their way to Jalan Kebun in Shah Alam, where the gathering was scheduled to be held, who were prevented from reaching their destination due to police road blocks, forcing them to abandon their cars on the nearby Kesas Highway.

They were met with tear gas and chemical irritants at the Kota Kemuning toll just before Jalan Kebun.

Jayaratnam added, "Shaiful was earlier treated at another clinic where he was referred to us. He was admitted on Nov 5 at 6.58pm and we concurred with the findings of the clinic where he sought treatment earlier."

He said that on Nov 7, Shaiful began to bleed in his right nostril and was then attended to by an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist. Shaiful was later discharged on Nov 9.

"His last visit was on Dec 20 and he complained of a slight vision problem. When I saw him for the first time he was frightened and agitated," Jayaratnam recalled.

Windows smashed

Meanwhile, according to another witness, Mohd Zabri Mohd Taib, 38, the vehicle he was in was hit by riot police until the windshield and windscreens broke.

"There were five to six FRU policemen surrounding my car and hitting the windows, the roof and the bonnet.

"The police ordered me to get out but if I did my friends would be caught as well," Zabri said.

Zabri added that he managed to escape when a van which was blocking his car allowed him to pass through.

"I was trying to escape and I heard the FRU shout 'Don't let him go!' At that moment the van next to me reversed a little and let me through."

"Later I heard the FRU shouting to the van, saying, 'Why did you let him pass?'" Zabri said.

When asked by inquiry chairman Anuar Zainal Abidin what happened to the van, Zabri replied: "I don't know but I heard a loud knock and it sounded like a kick."

The hearing continues tomorrow at the Suhakam headquarters in Menara Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur.