Court affirms proceedings against AG ahead of Adib inquest ruling
(FMT) – The High Court has rejected an application by the Attorney-General’s Chambers to have its criminal appeal heard as a civil matter, in reference to committal proceedings filed in July by the father of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, who died of injuries sustained during a riot outside the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple late last year.
Judge Meor Hashimi Abd Hamid fixed Nov 22 for the appeal by AG Tommy Thomas against the Aug 27 decision of the Coroner’s Court to allow the committal proceedings filed by Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid, to proceed against the AG.
On the same day, the court will also hear an application by Kassim for the AG’s appeal to be struck out, said Kassim’s lawyer Abi Mursyidin Awal.
The ruling today affirmed the earlier decision on Monday by the court’s assistant registrar that the committal proceedings will proceed as a criminal matter.
On July 16, an ex parte application for a committal order against Thomas was filed by Kassim for allegedly insulting the court through an affidavit by the AG’s Chambers on April 3, which said Adib’s death was not due to injuries sustained.
The affidavit was filed while the inquest into the cause of death of Adib was still under way.
The inquest, which involved 41 days of hearings between Feb 11 and July 24, will announce its decision tomorrow.
Adib, 24, died on Dec 17 last year, three weeks after he was injured while on duty responding to an emergency call over a riot at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.
Meanwhile, Adib’s mother, Asma Aziz, 52, is hoping for justice for her son ahead of the inquest ruling tomorrow.
“While in Mecca for pilgrimage this year, I did not forget to pray for him.
“My hopes, as well as my husband’s and the people here, are for an inquest decision favouring Adib,” she said.
Several special prayers were held ahead of the inquest ruling.
Earlier today, PAS and Umno members attended a special prayer session at Adib’s family house in Kedah.
In Kuala Lumpur, Malay NGO Gerakan Pembela Ummah organised special prayers at the Federal Territory Mosque in Jalan Duta.
