Forensic expert questions clash between autopsy report and govt theory on Adib’s death

Former Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia forensic expert Dr Shahrom Abd Wahib.

SHAH ALAM: A forensic expert told the inquest into Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim’s death today that there are contradictions between the government’s autopsy report and the theory presented on the fireman’s death.

Dr Shahrom Abd Wahib, who was formerly attached to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said from his reading of the report, pathologists from Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) had said in their report summary that they could not “safely conclude” whether Adib had been pinned between two surfaces.

“Overall, I am satisfied with the post-mortem report which was prepared by two senior doctors.

“But I was confused over two paragraphs where they said they could not be sure whether Adib was pulled out, or if he had voluntarily left the passenger seat of the van, and whether Adib was squeezed between two surfaces,” he said when questioned by lawyer Syazlin Mansor.

Syazlin, representing the local and housing government ministry in the inquest, had asked Shahrom about the post-mortem report by HKL pathologists Dr Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi and Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood.

The doctors previously told the inquest they believed Adib might have stepped out from the medical van during the Seafield temple riot last year, and that the fireman’s injuries were not due to an assault.

Shahrom said there should be no contradiction between the pathologists’ report and the theory they presented to the court.

“I find that HKL’s hypothesis does not seem right, and was not tested,” he added.

He said he had also conducted an experiment where an emergency medical rescue service (EMRS) van reversed at 17kmph, similar to the speed of the van on Nov 27, 2018.

“To me, it’s not strong enough to break seven ribs,” he said.

He added that the fireman in the experiment did not fall forward, as HKL claimed Adib had done.

“The ‘model’, covered with cushion pads for this experiment, fell on his back and injured his head,” he said.

When asked by Adib’s family lawyer, Kamaruzaman A Wahab, about the injuries at the late fireman’s waist and whether these could have been due to Adib emerging from the van, Shahrom said no.

“I asked some firemen whether they had sustained injuries while coming down from the van, and they said none of them was ever injured,” he added.

Here, conducting officer Faten Hadni Khairuddin told coroner Rofiah Mohamad that they wanted to recall Hafizam to rebut Shahrom’s theory on Adib’s death.

However, both Kamaruzaman and Syazlin objected to this, saying there is no need for the rebuttal of evidence in an inquest.

“This is only an inquest to determine the cause of death. It is not a criminal proceeding,” Kamaruzaman said.

Syazlin, meanwhile, said Hafizam had already explained his theory, and that the ministry had brought Shahrom in to assist the court in making its finding.

Rofiah then told the lawyers and Faten to file an argument on whether Hafizam can be recalled to the witness stand.

She also set April 22 to hear the submissions.

Faten told reporters after the proceeding that if their application to recall Hafizam is allowed, the doctor will take the witness stand on April 23.

Adib was part of a response team sent from the Subang Jaya fire and rescue station on Nov 27 last year to the temple area in response to a call that cars had been set on fire. He died at the National Heart Institute on Dec 17. - FMT