TWO theories are prevalent on what happened on the night of November 27 that led to the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.

One says he was pulled out of an emergency rescue vehicle and assaulted by a mob during a riot at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor.

The other submits that the 24-year-old fireman was accidentally run over by a reversing fire lorry whose driver was trying to escape the attention of a stone-throwing mob attempting to set the vehicle on fire.

Police investigations have yet to determine the truth. The post-mortem report offers nothing beyond the statement that Adib died of his injuries.

How these injuries were inflicted is the focus of today’s inquest at the Shah Alam court today.

The coroner will attempt to ascertain how the death occurred in a formal investigation that is usually reserved for those who died of unknown, violent or unnatural causes. The coroner will later determine the cause of death but is not required to establish why it occurred.

Obviously, the results will be of interest to parties, such as the Home Ministry and Adib’s family, who will be represented by their lawyers in the proceedings.

Eight firemen are expected to testify, along with two commanders from the Subang Jaya fire station to which Adib was attached.

Kedah-born Adib was the only fatality in the riots that erupted after armed intruders stormed the Hindu temple on November 26.

Adib was one of nine responders in the Subang Jaya Emergency Medical Rescue Services unit deployed to the scene after a mob set fire to several vehicles.

He was found lying unconscious on the road by passers-by who took him to the Ramsay Sime Darby Medical Centre. 

It was reported that Adib was dragged out of his emergency rescue van and assaulted. The temple task force later, however, said eyewitnesses saw Adib being run over by a fire lorry.

This sequence of events was disputed by the Fire and Rescue Services Department. Fireman Mohd Hazim Rahimi said it was he, not Adib, who was knocked down by the lorry.

Despite regaining consciousness later and showing some signs of recovery, Adib’s lung functions deteriorated and he died on December 17, three weeks after he was hospitalised.

So far no one has been charged in the case. Four suspects were remanded in the early stage of the investigation but later released on bail.

Police have arrested close to 100 people in the course of their investigations into the riots which saw more than 20 vehicles torched.

Acting Umno president Mohamad Hasan and the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Malaysia are among those who oppose the inquest, saying it delays justice and that the police should swiftly arrest those suspected of causing Adib’s death.

Malay rights group Gerakan Pembela Ummah has vowed to hold a street demonstration that will rival the recent anti-ICERD rally in size.

“Adib is a symbol. What we want is justice to prevail for all,” said its chairman, Aminuddin Yahya.

“In this case, a civil servant was sent to do his job but ended up being brutalised by criminals. That’s why we want action to be taken against them.” – January 18, 2019.