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Adib’s case: Home minister reveals 12 new suspects, says may launch new inquest

Hamzah said that the police have 12 new suspects whom they are recommending to be charged with rioting under Section 143 of the Penal Code. ― Picture by Farhan Najib
Hamzah said that the police have 12 new suspects whom they are recommending to be charged with rioting under Section 143 of the Penal Code. ― Picture by Farhan Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — The police have two new recommendations linked to the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim during a riot at a Hindu temple in Seafield, Selangor nearly two years ago, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin announced today.

He disclosed that the police have 12 new suspects whom they are recommending to be charged with rioting under Section 143 of the Penal Code.

“Two proposals were made. One, to charge 12 suspects under Section 143 of the Penal Code with rioting and attacking the fire department officers.

“Secondly, to redo an inquest if agreed by the AGC under Section 399 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC),” Hamzah said in the Dewan Rakyat today during his wind-up speech in debating the King’s royal address.

According to Hamzah, the recommendations were made based on investigation papers submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers on July 23.

On July 12, Adib's next-of-kin expressed their  disappointment with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.

Adib's family reportedly said they had initially placed high hopes that the authorities would undertake their investigation in a determined and transparent manner to identify Adib’s killer following the Coroner’s Court’s inquest decision last year.

The family's statement came after Abdul Hamid proposed to set up a review committee to look further into the sequence of events that led to the severe injuries that killed Adib as the police did not have a strong case to charge anyone despite the inquest suggestion that Adib was the victim of a violent act.

In a September 2019 verdict, the Coroner Court ruled that Adib’s death was due to a criminal act by two or three unidentified individuals.

The 24-year old sustained serious injuries during a riot on November 27, 2018 at the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple in USJ25, Subang Jaya. He eventually succumbed to his injuries at the National Heart Institute on December 17, after three weeks of intensive care.

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