Inquest into Adib's death to be held in Shah Alam

The inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim will be held in Shah Alam.

Attorney-General Chambers solicitor general III Mohd Hanafiah Zakaria said the papers regarding the chambers’ request for an inquest were filed at the Shah Alam registrar yesterday.

"The court has fixed Jan 18 as the case management date," he said when contacted.

An inquest is normally held at the coroner's court to determine the cause of death. It is presided by a Sessions judge, unlike previously where it used to be presided by a magistrate.

Yesterday, it was reported that Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said the attorney general had informed him that he will act on his powers as public prosecutor under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to instruct the court conduct an inquest to determine the cause of death.

"The prosecution will apply for the court to set an urgent hearing date and will assist the court in carrying out the inquest," Muhyiddin had said, adding that the coroner presiding over the inquest will have wide powers under Section 328 of the CPC to determine the possible cause of death.

Adib, 24, was part of a Fire and Rescue Department team deployed in response to vehicles that were torched by rioters near the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya.

However, the rioters attacked the personnel forcing them to flee.

Authorities claim Adib was dragged out of his vehicle and beaten up, causing him to suffer several broken ribs and injuries to multiple organs. He died from the injuries on Dec 17.

Several media reports claimed the post mortem report to Adib's death will be ready in a month. - Mkini