Subpoena IGP to explain his 'Adib beaten' statement, says cop

INQUEST | Senior investigating officer Lew Keng Joe suggested that his boss, Inspector-General of Police Mohamed Fuzi Harun, be subpoenaed to explain his statement that Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim was assaulted during the Seafield Maha Mariamman Temple riot last November.

He was testifying before the Coroner's Court in Shah Alam, which is holding an inquest to determine the firefighter's cause of death.

The lawyer for Adib's family, Ahmad Taufiq Baharum, had quizzed the officer on why the IGP made a statement shortly after the incident that the firefighter was beaten.

The witness first replied he was unsure as to the reasons for Fuzi making such a claim and speculated that perhaps the police chief had met with the firefighters involved.

He also said the IGP's comment was important but ultimately did not help much with the investigation.

When Taufiq pointed out that Fuzi (photo) made the statement before Adib succumbed to his injuries and a post-mortem was conducted, Lew asked if the lawyer wanted him to record the IGP's statement.

"Do you want me to record the IGP's statement? Maybe you should subpoena the IGP and ask him (to explain)," he said.

On Nov 29, Fuzi denied claims that Adib was injured when a Fire and Rescue Department vehicle reversed into him.

"If he wasn't beaten up, how can he be critically injured now? We are now trying to identify who made viral the video (which supposedly depicted Adib getting hit by the truck).

"We are also trying to hunt down the individuals involved in beating up Adib," he had said.

Adib was part of a Fire and Rescue Department team deployed when a riot erupted outside the temple on Nov 27.

He sustained heavy injuries during the riot and later passed away at the National Heart Institute (IJN) on Dec 17. - Mkini