THE driver of a fire truck heard a knock when he reversed while trying to escape a mob during the riots at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple, but did not know what he had hit, the Coroner’s Court heard today.

Fireman Elliza Mohd Noor told the inquest into the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, that when his team arrived at the scene, they were confronted by a mob gathered around a burning car.

“They started throwing stones and attacking the fire truck and the emergency medical rescue service vehicle. I got scared and started to reverse the truck.

“It was then I heard a noise like a knock but didn’t feel anything,” said the second witness at the inquest held at the Shah Alam High Court.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hamdan Hamzah asked Elliza what did he do when the crowd starting throwing stones at the vehicles.

Elliza said he knew the EMRS vehicle was at the back and in that moment had reversed into it in the commotion.

Adib’s family’s lawyer, Yahya Othman then asked Elliza if he saw Adib when he was reversing the fire truck. Elliza said “no”.

Adib and another medical assistant Ahmad Shahril Othman were in the EMRS vehicle when they were allegedly attacked by the mob.

The third witness, Shahril, said in the chaos the truck reversed and knocked into the EMRS vehicle. The truck also pushed the vehicle back.

He said that the mob then came on the right side of the EMRS vehiucle with helmets.

“Adib was in the vehicle. One hand was on the dashboard and the other on the armrest. He was looking in front (at the commotion).”

Proceedings will continue tomorrow. – February 11, 2019.