No foul play in Ahmad Sarbaini's death, court rules

The coroner's court in Kuala Lumpur has found that senior customs officer Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed fell from the Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office after being on the ledge of the building.

Coroner Aizatul Akmal Maharani, in his verdict before a packed courtroom, said the theory that MACC was involved in his death cannot hold.

“There were no signs of struggle in the incident and the court also dismisses that he committed suicide.”

The coroner, returning a verdict of misadventure, said he believes Ahmad Sarbaini, 56, accidentally fell from the building and was conscious during the fall.

“The court also rules that he died instantly in the fall, and he fell feet first, injuring both feet, and suffering severe head injuries.”

Attorney-General's Chambers officer Mohd Abazafree Mohd Abbas assisted in the inquest, while the MACC was represented by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Lawyer Awtar Singh represented Ahmad Sarbaini's family and lawyers Rosli Dahlan and Nadia Marni Mat Zin appeared on a watching brief for multinational DB Schenker (M) Logistics Bhd.

Sarbaini's widow Masiah@ Maziah Manap (right) and Social Care chairperson Robert Phang were also present in court.

One of the highlights of the inquest followed the discovery that the MACC's CCTV was found to be tampered with, as 22 hours of recording - including the period when Ahmad Sarbaini came into the premises - had apparently been deleted.

A total of 34 witnesses testified in the inquest which took 14 days to complete.

The witnesses included two Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia pathologists, Dr Faridah Md Nor and Dr Shahrum Abd Wahid.

Ahmad Sarbaini died after falling down from the third floor of the new Kuala Lumpur MACC office in Jalan Cochrane on April 6.

He was arrested as part of the 3B programme but was later released before returning to the MACC that fateful day.

His friends and family members claimed there was foul play in his death. They said he was a clean officer who had been planning to go on the haj this year with his wife and parents.

Ahmad Sarbaini's death came in the midst of a royal commission of inquiry into the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock, with MACC being the focus of attention.

The RCI, in its report, found that Teoh may have committed suicide resulting to his death on July 16, 2009.

[More to follow]