THE inquest into fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim’s death continues tomorrow with the 20th witness taking the stand, as conclusive evidence into the cause of his demise evades the court.

Following a 19-day hiatus, the coroner’s court will again sit to determine how Adib, who succumbed to injuries suffered during the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple riots last November, died on December 17 of lung failure at the National Heart Institute.

The next witnesses set to take the stand before coroner Rofiah Mohamad Mansor will be members of the Federal Reserve Unit at the scene the night Adib suffered his fatal injuries.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight that ASP Suhaimi Yaakub will take the stand tomorrow.

Over the course of the inquiry, conflicting accounts had been given by witnesses over whether Adib, a member of the Fire and Rescue Department’s Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS), was beaten by an angry mob or run over by a reversing truck.

Adib’s immediate superior, Subang Jaya fire station chief Syed Shahril Anuar Syed Sulaiman, had testified that the fireman had indicated he was pulled out of his emergency vehicle but could not confirm if he was beaten.

However, Dr S. Anand, 46, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre, said that Adib’s injuries were inconsistent with assault.

Adib was found to have suffered multiple fractures on the right ribs and a collapsed lung (lung contusion) upon his arrival at hospital.

Dr Anand had said that because Adib’s injuries were confined to the chest area, it was unlikely that he had been assaulted.

Meanwhile, Adib’s father, Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid, had early last month told The Malaysian Insight that he hoped there would be no cover-up of the events leading up to his son’s death.

“I hope we will know the truth behind the incident. We hope there will be no cover-ups and those responsible for my son’s death will be brought to justice,” he had said. – March 18, 2019.