No human samples found on fire truck, EMRS van: Witness

INQUEST | No biological human traces were found on the fire truck and Emergency Medical and Rescue Services (EMRS) van that were at the scene of the Seafield temple riots on Nov 27 last year, testified science and forensic officer Mohamad Firdhaus Ramli.

The officer attached to the Criminal Division of the Chemistry Department told the Coroner’s Court this afternoon this was confirmed after an analysis of samples, including paint specimens taken from the outside of both vehicles.

Firdhaus, 33, the 26th witness in the inquest into fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim's death, told Coroner Rofiah Mohamad that he took the samples after examining both vehicles on Dec 5 last year.

Inquest conducting officer Fatin Hadni Khairuddin: Did you find any other specimens on both vehicles?

Firdhaus: No.

Fatin: Did you look for human specimens on the vehicles?

Firdhaus: I did the examination (for human biological traces) but I did not find any biological evidence such as hair or blood.

Previously, the court heard various testimonies that said that the deceased, 24, may have been hit by the EMRS van as it reversed in tandem with the FRT fire truck to escape an angry mob on the night of the riots.

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 near the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman in USJ25, Selangor.

The inquest was ordered after two conflicting versions of his cause of death emerged. One version claimed he was hit by a Fire and Rescue Department vehicle, while the other said he was beaten up by a mob.

[More to follow] - Mkini