KUALA LUMPUR: Inconsistencies in the statements obtained during the second round of police questioning in relations to the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, resulted in fewer options for police to conclude their investigation.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said following the Coroner's order, police re-recorded the testimonies of 30 witnesses who had previously testified on Muhammad Adib's death.
"These included two firemen who were closest (in proximity) to where Adib was found at the time of the incident and another additional 52 new witnesses, yet none saw Adib being removed from the EMRS ambulance and being attacked.
"It is impossible no one had witnessed the alleged assault. Several video recordings were also re-examined but those too did not indicate any attack on an individual taking place, in any of the clips. One clip did show an ambulance backing up into a van but that's all.
"Investigations are still ongoing but to this day we have not found anyone who saw the victim being beaten," he said to reporters at the Federal Police headquarters in Bukit Aman today.
Muhammad Adib, 24, an Emergency Medical Rescue Services firemen from the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Station sustained serious injuries during a commotion at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya on Nov 27, 2018.
Last September, the Shah Alam Coroner's Court ruled that the fireman's death was the result of an act of crime committed by two or more persons.
The coroner also told the police to revisit the case again to find new evidence that supported the coroner's results but to no avail.
Abdul Hamid said the two firefighters who were close to the deceased were also consistent as they did not see anyone hitting and injuring Muhammad Adib, in both questioning sessions.
One inconsistency, Abdul Hamid said was the contradiction in the statements of the two pathologists, one of whom was appointed by the family and another from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).
It is learnt that one witness who had claimed to have seen Muhammad Adib being beaten up, while under oath in the coroner's court, had later changed his statement.
"Based on new developments, we are unable to come to the coroner's decision but suggest that an Independent special team is formed under the Home Ministry, to look into all the testimonies in the case. After which the special teams finding could be presented to the Attorney-General for his advice," he said.
He added that he had no intentions of delaying the case any longer.
"If there is a witness who can convince us that he saw the deceased Muhammad Adib pulled and assaulted, please come forward.
"Police do not play politics. Im told certain parties are accusing us of taking sides but that's not true. To be honest we just want to get to the truth, backed by convincing evidence," he said.