Police to check if riot control SOP followed during Seafield temple incident

Police will determine if the standard operating procedure (SOP) for riot control was followed during the Seafield temple incident last November, said Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador.

"The SOP is there. Whether it was followed or not, we can check why (if) the SOP was not followed.

"But the SOP will not change, I see no need to change it," he was quoted as saying by Bernama today.

Hamid was responding to the Coroner's Court stating that the police's inaction had contributed to the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.

Based on the testimonies of 30 witnesses during the 41-day inquest, Coroner Rofiah Mohamad ruled that the firefighter had been assaulted by two or three unidentified assailants.

Meanwhile, Hamid said police would re-evaluate their investigation into Adib's death in light of the coroner's findings.

"Before this, we were satisfied that there was no evidence for us to charge anyone, there wasn't enough evidence.

"But if the court has decided there were criminal elements, then we will look into it again," he added.

He also said that police would find those involved in Adib's death.

Adib died at the National Heart Institute on Dec 17, 2018, after succumbing to injuries sustained during the riot outside the Subang Jaya temple.

The inquest was ordered after two conflicting versions on the cause of his death emerged.

One version claimed he was hit by a Fire and Rescue Department vehicle as it attempted to flee an advancing mob, while the other alleged he was assaulted.

In a statement later, federal CID director Huzir Mohamed said the police would wait for further instructions from the Attorney-General's Chambers regarding the coroner's decision.

He also revealed that investigations into Adib's death was never closed. - Mkini