THE inquest into the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim took a twist this morning as the lawyer representing two interested parties in the case withdrew from the proceedings.

Syazlin Mansor, who represented the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Fire and Rescue Department, did not, however, state her reason for the surprise decision.

Syazlin, who has been actively involved in the inquest since day one, surprised the court presided by coroner Rofiah Mohamad with her announcement.

She told the coroner that her withdrawal meant that expert witness Professor Dr Shahrom Abdul Wahid’s testimony would be invalidated.

“With my withdrawal, the appointment of Dr Shahrom as a witness will be void,” she said. 

The court is currently on a break.

Shahrom was the inquest’s 29th witness and had given testimony that conflicted two other expert witnesses, who had Adib’s death was due to injuries sustained from falling from an Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) vehicle.

Shahrom, who is the former head of Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s forensics unit, had theorised that Adib sustained his injuries when he was pulled out of the vehicle and attacked.

Following Syazlin’s announcement, Adib’s family lawyer Ahmad Taufiq Baharum told the court it had no other witnesses to call.

Rofiah then adjourned the hearing to make a decision. – May 27, 2019.