COURT FIXES MAY 27 TO RECALL PROF SHAHROM
Coroner suggests that ex-pathology consultant testify only in question and answer format, without any experiment
THE Coroner’s Court here yesterday has fixed May 27 and 28 to recall an expert witness to testify in the inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
The witness, Professor Dr Shahrom Abd Wahid, is a senior consultant forensic pathologist in the United Kingdom and was a former senior forensic and pathology consultant at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz.
Coroner Rofiah Mohamad made the decision after allowing an application by counsel Syazlin Mansor, who is representing the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia and the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Earlier, Syazlin had made a request to
recall the 29th witness following a dispute over Adib’s cause of death.
“We believe the inquest conducting officer will not object, based on the agreement reached when an application to recall the 24th witness, Kuala Lumpur Hospital Pathology Forensic Specialist Dr Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi, was submitted to the High Court last month,” he said.
Syazlin suggested that an expert witness in mechanical engineering be called to testify over the calculations on the force of impact of the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) van in causing Adib’s broken ribs.
Inquest conducting officer Faten Hadni Khairuddin appealed to the court to consider only calling the witness to testify on his theory, instead of conducting a new experiment to rebut the one carried out by the Kuala Lumpur Hospital forensic team.
“We also recommend that an independent mechanical engineering expert be called and we leave it to the court to decide on the method of selection, whether it is done by the stakeholders or court,” she said.
Rofiah suggested that Dr Shahrom testify only in the form of questions and answers, instead of conducting a new experiment.
On the application to summon a mechanical engineering expert, she urged stakeholders to discuss first the name of the expert who will testify, and the questions to be submitted.
“The court needs a name, and qualifications (before making a decision).
“If you want to produce a witness, it is perfectly fine to testify in a written form as in a sworn statement, or probably in a question and answer format, because there are issues such as readiness, and that if (the witness) is proposed by the ministry, some will possibly assume he is a paid witness.”
Adib, 24, died at the National Heart Institute from severe injuries sustained after he was allegedly assaulted by rioters outside the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya on Nov 27.
He was part of an emergency response team dispatched to the scene to put out a fire on a vehicle.