Not one out of 61 witnesses saw Adib being beaten, kicked or hit.
A senior investigating officer told the Coroner’s Court yesterday that some fire department officers informed him that there was no need to conduct a post-mortem on the body of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
ACP Lew Keng Joe of Subang Jaya district police headquarters said several fire department officers said this to him when he arrived at the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 10.30pm on December 17 after he learned about Adib’s death.
“I arrived at IJN at 10.30pm. On reaching the ICU (IJN) area, some officers, their names I can’t remember, approached me to inform that a post-mortem was not necessary,” he said.
Lew was replying to a question by deputy public prosecutor Fatah Hadni Khairuddin on the 21st day of the inquest to determine the fireman’s death.
Lew testified that the officers told him this as IJN senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Datuk Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib could confirm the cause of Adib’s death.
Lew said he then contacted Subang Jaya district police chief ACP Mohammad Azlin Sadari and a request was issued for a post-mortem to be carried out.
The police officer said he learnt from Ezani that Adib died of acute respiratory syndrome as complications of blunt chest trauma with multiple organ failure.
Lew also said that he had requested for Kuala Lumpur Hospital pathologists to examine the uniform worn by Adib during the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple riot on Nov 27.
He added that this was after he received the items from a Fire and Rescue Department officer identified as Mohd Zaikunor Affendi on Nov 30 and Dec 4.
The items were the top of a firefighter camouflage-design uniform, inner shirt, belt, firefighter camouflage bottom, and underwear.
Apparently, the uniform may have been washed before it was handed over to the police.
Lew said 12 suspects were arrested to assist the investigations into Adib’s injuries during the riot.
He said the first six arrests included a witness in the inquest, Nasaruddin Abdullah, who was at the scene.
The remaining six were individuals believed to have been involved in the rampage at the One City building, but they were rearrested to assist in investigations into Adib’s case.
“A total of 12 suspects were arrested to assist investigations into the case where the first six suspects were at the scene, including a witness named Nasaruddin,” he said.
The 28th for the inquest, Lew said 61 witnesses have given their statements in relation to the case.
However, he said not a single witness saw the victim being beaten, kicked or hit.
Lew told the court that Bukit Aman had also issued photos of 66 people being sought for assistance in the case, but so far none of them had come forward.
Earlier reports:
Mar 30, Adib Inquest: Assumption Adib Assaulted Dismissed After Autopsy
Mar 29, Adib Inquest: Broken Ribs Only Discovered During Autopsy
Mar 28, Adib Inquest: Impossible for Adib to Have Been Dragged Out of Van