Forensic expert hit by online slurs in wake of dispute by 'nurse'

A forensic medical specialist from Hospital Kuala Lumpur says that he received harsh insults online, after a woman who claimed to be a nurse disputed his testimony on how firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim could have suffered fatal injuries during the Seafield temple riots on Nov 27 last year.

With a bemused smile, Dr Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi told the Shah Alam Coroner’s Court today that he had been accused of being a liar, while he was merely trying get to the truth behind Adib’s cause of death.

“In the wake of this post (by the nurse on social media), I have been insulted with harsh words, and labelled a liar. But I did not respond on Facebook.

“I say that we can only seek out the truth. Please provide me with any additional information over the injury and death of the deceased (Adib) that I did not unearth during the clinical examination with (forensic specialist) Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood.

“I urge the coroner (Rofiah Mohamad) to call (any other witness) to court to verify the information,” Hafizam said today on the 17th day of the inquest into Adib’s death.

Hafizam was speaking to inquest coordinating officer Hamdan Hamzah, who had asked for his response to the online post by the alleged nurse, identified only as “Miera”.

“Miera”, who claimed to work at the National Heart Institute where Adib was warded, had taken to social media to dispute Hafizam’s testimony on Friday last week.

Hafizam had previously testified that his examination of Adib’s body showed that the firefighter had likely sustained injuries due to being hit by a vehicle, rather than being beaten during the riots.

In her post, the woman had claimed to have seen signs of injury on Adib that showed he had been beaten. She has since retracted her post.

Hafizam said today that his examination of Adib’s remains did not uncover any sign that the firefighter had been physically assaulted during the riot.

The inquest before Rofiah continues this afternoon.

Adib passed away on Dec 17 at 9.41pm at the National Heart Institute after succumbing to injuries sustained on the night of the riots. The inquest was ordered after two conflicting versions of his cause of death emerged.

One version claimed he was hit by a vehicle, while the other said he was beaten up by a mob.  - Mkini