A-GC APPOINTS NEW LAWYERS
The 4 will represent ministry, Fire and Rescue Dept, replacing Syazlin
FOUR lawyers from the Attorney-General’s Chambers have been appointed to represent the Housing and Local Government Ministry and Fire and Rescue Department at the inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
Senior federal counsel Suzana Atan, Mazlifah Ayob, Fadzilatul Isma Ahmad Rafngah, and federal counsel Afiq Zainal Abidin, were introduced at the
Coroner’s Court yesterday.
Their appointment came after Attorney-General Tommy Thomas had asked Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to withdraw lawyer Syazlin Mansor’s appointment, citing conflict of interest as one of the reasons.
Syazlin, who was representing Adib’s family, also acted on behalf of both the ministry and Fire and Rescue Department.
Syazlin withdrew from representing all three parties on May 27, but returned as the lawyer representing the victim’s family.
“The A-G’s request to the minister (Zuraida) was only for her (Syazlin) to withdraw from representing the ministry and
Fire and Rescue Depart-inquest ment,” said conducting officer deputy public prosecutor Faten Hadni Khairuddin, adding that there were no objections to Syazlin representing Adib’s family.
Judge Rofiah Mohamad then fixed July 3, 4, and 5 for the court to hear the testimony of the inquest’s 29th witness, retired pathologist Dr Shahrom Abd Wahid.
The court also set July 16 and 17 to hear from a physics expert to determine the force of impact needed to cause Adib’s injuries. Dr Shahrom, in his testimony previously, said there was not enough impact coming from the door of the Fire and Rescue Department’s Emergency Medical Rescue Services van to cause Adib’s injuries, which later proved fatal.
His theory contradicted forensics expert Dr Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi’s testimony, who said there was enough force from the van’s door to injure Adib.
Dr Shahrom put forward the theory that the fireman could have been forcefully pulled out from the van, resulting in his injuries.
Dr Hafizam, who is the inquest’s 24th witness, conducted the post-mortem on the fireman and ruled that his injuries were inconsistent with an assault.
Adib, 24, and his team members from the Subang Jaya fire and rescue station responded to an emergency call at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple during a riot on Nov 26.
Adib, who sustained serious injuries, was taken to Subang Jaya Medical Centre before being transferred to the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur for further treatment. He died on Dec 17.