Umno Youth tells AG to quit after coroner says he scandalised inquest

PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth called on Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas to honourably step down, as the Coroner's Court had in its prima facie decision found him in contempt of the inquest into fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim's death.

Its Youth chief Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the post should not be held by an individual who did not respect the rules of law, or who have violated any laws.

"Either Tommy step down honourably, or Umno Youth will appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to consider terminating his service," he said.

He also said this in response to coroner Rofiah Mohamad's prima facie decision on Monday (Sept 24), holding Tommy in contempt for breaching an inquest procedure.

Coroner Rofiah said that Tommy had scandalised the inquest proceeding.

She opined that Tommy's statement dismissing beating as the cause of death could lead to misperception that the inquest was a mere drama, staged to rubber-stamp the position taken by the Attorney General.

The slain firefighter’s father Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid filed an ex-parte committal application against Thomas on July 16 for claiming on April 3 that Adib's death was not caused by beating.

Senior federal counsel S. Narkunavathy, who represented the Attorney General, informed the coroner during the case management on Monday (Sept 23) that she had filed a notice of appeal against the decision to allow Mohd Kassim’s application.

Narkunavathy had said her appeal against the decision was earlier ruled by the High Court as a civil appeal, but later changed to "criminal appeal”.

"Hence, the Coroner’s Court must prepare in writing to the High Court on its grounds to allow the committal proceedings, ” added Narkunavathy.

Rofiah set Oct 7 for the next case management.

Muhammad Adib, 24, a member of the emergency medical rescue services (EMRS) at the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Station, was seriously injured in a riot at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, USJ25, on Nov 27,2018.

He died on Dec 17,21 days after being warded at the National Heart Institute.

Meanwhile Counsel Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who was representing the family of the deceased, said the committal proceedings would not affect the decision on the inquest expected on Friday (Sept 27).

Asyraf said the coroner's prima facie finding that Tommy had "scandalised" the inquest proceeding should be taken seriously, as it was unbecoming of a person holding the AG post to show such utter disrespect to the rules of law.

Apart from the contempt case, Tommy should also be held responsible for dropping corruption charges against DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and dropping a charge against lawyer Siti Kassim for allegedly showing a lewd sign.

The case involving the murder of Indonesian maid Adelina Jerima Sau was also dropped without reasonable excuse.- Star