Adib inquest rejects witnesses recall

SHAH ALAM: The Coroner’s Court here has dismissed the application by the prosecution to recall two expert witnesses in the inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.

Coroner Rofiah Mohamad said both the witnesses – the 24th witness, Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) forensic pathologist Dr Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi and the 27th witness, HKL’s forensic department head Datuk Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood – had already been called to give their testimony.

“Both of them testified their findings on the body of Muhammad Adib and their reports were submitted.

“They have also given explanations to conducting officers, stakeholders and the court,” she said yesterday.

No further submission, said Rofiah, was required for the experiment on April 12 as this was to back the findings of the 24th and 27th witnesses.

“If the two witnesses are recalled, it will strengthen their findings and we will also have to recall the 29th witness, former senior forensic and pathology consultant at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Prof Dr Shahrom Abd Wahid,” she said.

The 29th witness, she added, might then conduct a new experiment to rebut that conducted by the 24th and 27th witnesses.

“This will continue and there will be no end while the Coroner has the responsibility to resolve the inquest within a reasonable time. I am satisfied with what had already been presented to enable me to arrive at a decision,” she said.

Earlier, conducting officer Hamdan Hamzah told the court that he would file an appeal to the High Court against the Coroner’s decision to reject the application.

Rofiah then set May 10 for the mention.

Muhammad Adib, a member of the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Station EMRS unit, was seriously injured during a rioting incident at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya on Nov, 27 last year.

He died at the National Heart Institute on Dec 17.