The family of Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim has filed an ex-parte application on Tuesday to have Attorney-General Tommy Thomas cited for contempt of court over his statement about the fireman’s death.
Lawyer Kamaruzaman A Wahab, who represents Adib’s family, informed Coroner Rofiah Mohamad about Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid’s application through Messrs Mohd Zubir Embong & Associates.
The application from Adib‘s father stemmed from Thomas’ affidavit through the Attorney General’s Chamber (AGC) to the Court of Appeals last April 3, saying that Adib’s death was not caused by being beaten up.
“The coroner has yet to decide (on the cause of Adib’s death) but they have already said what this is before the findings of the Coroner’s Court,” lawyer Mohd Zubir Embong, who also represents Adib’s family, told reporters.
“Thomas also attempted to suppress lawyer Syazlin from discharging her task as an advocate and solicitor, and lawful court official when representing the Housing and Local Government Ministry, Fire and Rescue Department and Muhammad Adib’s family,” he added.
A copy of the application notice has been served on the A-G’s representative, deputy public prosecutor Faten Hadni Khairuddin, who was the conducting officer in the inquest at noon on Tuesday.
An ex-parte application is an urgent request to the court, and Rofiah is expected to fix a date for the application to be reviewed.
“I will have to look at that application…then we will see,” Rofiah was quoted as saying.
Earlier this year, DPP Hamdan Hamzah affirmed an affidavit saying that Adib’s death was not due to beatings. It also said that a forensic pathologist had testified in the inquest that the injuries sustained by Adib, which led to his death, were not injuries from beating.
A total of 30 witnesses have been already called to testify on Adib’s death, the last being Ir Dr Amir Radzi Abd Ghani, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
Adib, 24, was a member of the emergency medical rescue services (EMRS) at Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue station. He was involved in a riot at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on November 27, 2018.
He was hospitalised for 21 days before passing away on December 17 at the National Heart Institute.