Court gives green light to A-G to stay committal proceedings

KUALA LUMPUR: The committal proceedings initiated against Attorney-General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas over statements he allegedly made regarding the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim have been postponed.

This follows the Coroner’s Court’s decision yesterday, which allowed Thomas’ application to stay the proceedings pending two appeals at the High Court.

In her decision, coroner Rofiah Mohamad said the court was of the opinion that the pending matters were important.

“After the court considered the application in the affidavit and submissions filed by both parties, I found that there was no concrete information (on the two appeals related to the committal proceedings).

“If the court proceeded with the committal proceedings substantively, it would lead to an ‘embarrassing situation’.”

She said on the balance of convenience, it would not prejudice the parties since the matter at the High Court had been fixed on Nov 25.

On July 17, Adib’s family had filed contempt proceedings against Thomas following his media statement and an affidavit filed by former conducting officer Hamdan Hamzah in April.

The media statement distributed on May 28 was in relation to the withdrawal of lawyer Syazlin Mansor from representing the Housing and Local Government Ministry and Fire and Rescue Department.

On Aug 27, Rofiah, when allowing the committal proceedings, said the family had proven a prima facie case against the A-G.

She said the affidavit filed by Hamdan had been scrutinised by the public, following which, some had suggested that the case be referred to a Royal Commission of Inquiry.

On Sept 27, an inquest ruled that Adib’s death was a result of a criminal act by more than two people.

Adib, 24, was reported to have been critically injured when he and a team of firemen responded to a distress call about a vehicle on fire during a riot outside the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya on Nov 27 last year.

Adib was taken to the Subang Jaya Medical Centre and later transferred to the National Heart Institute.

He died on Dec 17.