SHAH ALAM: Firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim responded to 15 questions on what happened at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple riot on Nov 27, following claims that he was beaten up by a mob during the incident.
The questions were posed to him by Subang Jaya fire and rescue station head, Syed Shahril Anuar Syed Sulaiman, at the National Heart Institute (IJN), where Adib was warded before his death on Dec 17.
Syed Shahril, who was the 18th witness in the inquest into Adib’s death, told the coroner’s court on Wednesday that he posed the questions to Adib on Dec 12 at the IJN.
“In total, I managed to interact with Adib three times at IJN on December 5, 12 and 13.
“In the December 5 visit, I asked him, ‘were you beaten in the incident’, to which he nodded.
“I then asked him, ‘were you pulled out of the EMRS (Emergency Medical Rescue Service) van’, he nodded. Using his left hand, he gestured that he was pulled out of the vehicle by his shoulder,” he said, responding to deputy public prosecutor Hamdan Hamzah.
Syed Shahril said Adib’s response prompted him to prepare a list of 15 questions to find out what actually transpired on Nov 27.
“At the time, there was speculation that Adib could have been struck by a vehicle and not assaulted by the rioters. I prepared the questions so that I could get answers from Adib himself,” he said.
Syed Shahril said he visited Adib again on Dec 12 around noon. He said Adib appeared to be in better condition and had just completed his physiotherapy session.
He said after obtaining permission from Adib’s parents, he and another firefighter posed the questions to Adib.
The questions were in multiple choice, and Adib ticked the appropriate answer boxes.
The following are the 15 questions.
Q1: Did the rioters try to open the EMRS door when the vehicle reversed?
A: Yes
Q2: Did you try to stop them from opening the door?
A: Yes
Q3: Did they manage to open the door?
A: Yes
Q4: How did you feel when they tried to open the door? (The answers were scared, nervous, stressed or panicked)
A: Stressed
Q5: Were you pulled out of the EMRS?
A: Yes
Q6: If you were pulled out of the vehicle, which part of you did they grab?
A: Shoulder
Q7: Did you fall down after you were pulled?
A: I don’t remember.
Q8: Did you fall down while you were being pulled?
A: I don’t remember.
Q9: When you were being assaulted, were you conscious?
A: I don’t remember.
Q10: Did they assault you with an object?
A: Yes.
Q11: If they used an object, did you see what it was?
A: No.
Q12: What was the object used? (The answers were wood, rocks, metal or others)
A: Others.
Q13: Did you regain consciousness at the scene or in hospital?
A: Hospital.
Q14: Did you felt threatened during the situation?
A: Yes.
Q15: Did you try to defend yourself?
A: I don’t remember.
Syed Shahril said he then informed Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Azmi Osman on what Adib related to him.
The inquest resumes on Thursday before Coroner Rofiah Mohamad Mansor.