SUBANG JAYA: The second day of an inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim saw the coroner visiting the site where two of the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Department’s vehicles were attacked by rioters on Nov 27, during which Adib was seriously injured.
Coroner Rofiah Mohamad arrived at the location, which is adjacent to the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple flashpoint, which had been cordoned off by police.
Rofiah, who arrived at 11.20am, was accompanied by deputy public prosecutor Hamdan Hamzah and a team of counsels from Suhakam and Adib’s family.
She was briefed on what transpired by several firemen and other witnesses.
The group visited several areas where key incidents occurred on the night of the riots, including the location where a vehicle was found torched; and Jalan Usaha, where the Fire Rescue Truck (FRT) and EMRS (Emergency Medical Response Service) vehicle in which Adib was a passenger collided in a desperate attempt to escape the violent mob.
After spending 30 minutes inspecting the sites, the group left to visit the FRT and EMRS vehicles in question at the USJ fire station.
Yesterday, fireman Md Elliza Mohd Noor, 36, who was the second witness to testify, said that his unit was attacked as soon as they arrived at the scene to douse the torched vehicle.
Elliza, who was the driver of the FRT, said various hard objects, including a steel pole, crash helmets, and bricks were thrown at them.
The third witness, Ahmad Shahril Othman, who was the driver of the EMRS vehicle, told the court that Adib was with him when the FRT reversed to escape the crowd and collided with the EMRS vehicle.
He said Adib, who was in the front passenger seat, was stunned by the collision, and held on to the dashboard.
Adib, 24, died from severe injuries sustained after allegedly being assaulted by rioters at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple.
Despite showing signs of recovery while being treated at the National Heart Institute, he died on Dec 17.