Correct decision to hold inquest on Adib's death

COMMENT | After 41 days, 30 witnesses and 137 exhibits, the inquest into the circumstances that led to the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim concluded last week.

The coroner, Rofiah Mohamad found that “more than two unidentified persons” had caused the injuries that led to the death of Muhammad Adib.

At the time of the incident last year, we knew that Muhammad Adib died as a result of the injuries that he sustained during the riots surrounding the issue of the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. Yet the circumstances that led to his fatal injuries remained a mystery. The prevailing narrative at that time was that Adib was beaten by the rioters.

In December 2018, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas exercised his powers under the Criminal Procedure Code to direct the Coroner’s Court to hold an inquest to determine the cause of death of Muhammad Adib.

Many at that time were cynical about the decision to hold the inquest. They claimed that the inquest was an attempt to ‘cover-up’ the cause of Muhammad Adib’s death. To them, it was already clear as to what supposedly happened that fateful night...