Police probing Adib’s death as attempted murder, says officer

SHAH ALAM: Although injuries sustained by firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim suggested that he was not assaulted, police are still investigating the case under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempt to murder.

Investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Lew Keng Joe said based on photos taken when the victim was treated at Subang Jaya Medical Centre, he believed Adib was not assaulted, he told the Coroner’s Court, here, yesterday.

Lew was the 28th witness of the inquest into Adib’s death.

“His hand was swollen and there were bruises on his upper right chest. There were no other injuries on his face.

“In my opinion, he was not assaulted. I believe if he was assaulted, there would be injuries to his face and if it was a gang assault, the attackers are likely to hit the head, but there were no such injuries on Adib.

“Since I could not confirm that he was assaulted, I referred the case to my department chief (Deputy Superintendent G.K. Shan Gopal), and he shared the same opinion that Adib was not assaulted.

“Investigations were conducted under Section 307 of the Penal Code upon instruction from IPK Selangor (Selangor state police headquarters),” he told the court when replying to a question from the conducting officer Faten Hadni Khairuddin.

He said the case was reclassified under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder following Adib’s death.

He, however, said the post-mortem had yet to be conducted when the police reclassified the case.

Earlier, when asked by lawyer representing Adib’s family, Ahmad Taufiq Baharum, if he aware that the prime minister, home minister and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had said that Adib was attacked, Lew replied: “I am not aware of the statements made by the PM and home minister, but I know the IGP had said that either on Nov 27 or Nov 28.

Later, Faten asked if the postmortem had been conducted when the PM, home minister and IGP said that Adib was assaulted and he said “No.”

When the PM, home minister and the IGP made the statement, had the post-mortem been conducted?

No, the IGP made the statement on Nov 27 or Nov 28, at the time the victim was still alive. I am not sure when the PM and home minister made their statements.

When asked about a viral post alleging that the four men arrested by the police were those behind the purported attacks, Lew Are there any statements to show that they had assaulted the victim?

No, Puan. The arrest was made in Jasin, Melaka and they were detained in connection with the One City Development Sdn Bhd.

Based on the results of an interrogation, they were not involved in this case.

Can any of the public witnesses identify the rioters? No.

As of today, as the I.O. of the case, can you identify the rioters?

Since I could not confirm that he was assaulted, I referred it to my department chief, and he shared the same opinion that Adib was not assaulted.”

Assistant Superintendent of Police

No, efforts are still ongoing to track them down.

The hearing continues next Tuesday before coroner Rofiah Mohamad.