KUALA LUMPUR: The investigation papers into the death of fireman Mohamad Adib Mohd Kassim was submitted to the deputy public prosecutor on Monday, although investigations are still ongoing, said Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a mass wedding event for policemen, funded and organised by Bank Muamalat today, Fuzi said police are awaiting further instructions from the DPP.
“We will comply with whatever instructions that are given to us,” he said.
The IGP maintained that police are doing all they can to complete the investigations as soon as possible and to bring those responsible for Adib’s death and the temple riots to justice.
He also said the murder was still being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
“There is no complete, black-and-white report on the post-mortem. We are still waiting,” he added.
Fuzi said so far police have arrested 108 individuals in relation to the temple riots and Adib’s subsequent death.
“However, from the pictures of 66 people that we have publicised, only 10 have come forward to give their statements,” he added.
“This means there are still around 50 people who have yet to come forward.
“We seek the public’s help to identify the remaining 50 people, whose pictures have been published on the media, to come forward and continue helping us in our investigations.”
Fuzi said so far 26 people have been charged.
“We are going to charge more people, maybe next week, but this will depend on the DPP’s decision.”
Adib, 24, from the Subang Jaya fire and rescue station, was badly injured when he was assaulted in the vicinity of the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya, early on Nov 27 when he arrived to put out a car fire during riots that erupted over the relocation of the house of worship.
He died at the National Heart Institute three weeks later on Dec 17.
The full post-mortem report into the cause of Adib’s death is expected to be ready in about a month.
Recently, it was announced that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had requested for an inquest to determine the cause of Adib’s death. Case management for the inquest has been set for Jan 18 at the Shah Alam court complex.
Asked on the need for an inquest when police investigations are ongoing and whether it will hinder police work, Fuzi declined to comment.
Several lawyers and Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan had queried the need for the inquest when the police probe has not been completed and many suspects have been rounded up.
Crime drops but public perception remains unfavourable
On another matter, Fuzi said every year, Malaysia’s crime rate has been decreasing.
“This year alone, the decrease was more than 10%. As of November, national crime, on average, has been reduced by 10.7%.”
Fuzi was responding to the 2017 crime index report published by Malaysia’s Department of Statistics, which stated that violent crime has dropped 4.3% from 2016 to 21,366 cases while property crime (thefts, snatch thefts, house break-ins, etc) decreased 13.6% to 77,802 cases.
However, Fuzi noted that public perception of crime levels in the country and the police remained unfavourable.
“If crime statistics decrease, but public perception is still unfavourable, that means the crime levels are still not what we hope for.
“This is what we are working on — to instil greater confidence in the citizens in relation to this positive achievement.”
Fuzi also said that police are working towards increasing engagement with citizens so all can work together to further reduce the crime rate, especially in the coming year.
“Among our main focus next year will be to combat corruption across all levels in the police force and combat illegal gambling,” he said. --FMT
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