SHAH ALAM — May 10, 2019: Kuala Lumpur Hospital forensic expert, Dr. Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi, who was recalled to testify in the inquest today made clear that he disagreed with some facts presented by a senior consultant forensic pathologist to determine the impact of an injury.
In this regard, Hafizam pointed out that Professor Dr. Shahrom Abd. Wahid likely did not take into account the weight of the van in question.
“There is a formula normally used for cases involving a fall from a high place. Because of that we did not include the distance of the deceased because we did not know from where he had fallen.”
Nevertheless, based on this calculation, what had happened was sufficient to break the ribs, said Hafizam.
Based on a re-examination and experiment, Hafizam and HKL forensic chief Datuk Dr Mohd. Shah Mahmood concurred in disagreeing with the theory presented by Shahrom, which was that firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd. Kassim was pulled and trapped between the sliding door of the van.
Hafizam told conducting officer Faten Hadni Khairuddin that the structure of the van’s door which was said to have hit Adib’s chest was 28 centimetres while the size of the injury on him was only 15 cm. It was thus obvious that the injury was not consistent with the length of the door.
“I also disagree with Prof Dr. Shahrom’s testimony that the bruises on the deceased’s left elbow was a result of his falling on his back. This is because the injury on his right knee showed that the victim had fallen forward and the injury to the left elbow could also be due to that.
“As for the fractures at the back of the third and fourth ribs on the right which the witness said was due to direct impact and resulting in an oblique injury, I don’t agree,” he said.
According to Hafizam, he had examined the fractures and these were caused by the impact on the front of the ribs.
Adib who was a Subang Jaya fire and rescue personnel who sustained serious injuries during rioting outside the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple last November 27 and died on December 17 while being treated at the National Heart Institute.
The inquest resumes on Tuesday before coroner Rofiah Mohamad. — Bernama
