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Thursday, 4 August 2011

Ahmad Sarbaini Might Have Slipped To His Death - Pathologist

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- Selangor Customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed might have slipped to his death from a window ledge of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) building in Jalan Cochrane, the Coroner's Court was told Wednesday.

This was attested by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital forensic pathologist Dr Shahrom Abdul Wahid at an inquest into the death.

Dr Shahrom, 54, who is the 32nd witness, said the findings were made, following a re-enactment by a stuntman, and marks found at the scene.

He said, Ahmad Sarbaini could have climbed out of the window of the pantry on level three of the building to go to a roof overlooking a badminton court.

"If one stands near the window, the roof to the left seems near, but when the victim managed to get out of the window, he found the roof was beyond his reach," he said during examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Abazafree Mohd Abbas.

Dr Shahrom said hence, Ahmad Sarbaini inched his way on the window ledge to the right and tried to reach the roof, while clinging on to the window frame in vain.

The witness said the victim then changed his mind and tried to climb back to the pantry through the window, but slipped and fell to level one of the building.

He said Sarbaini took a calculated risk and did not rush, otherwise there would have been injuries and bruise marks on the abdomen as it was difficult to squeeze through the window in a hurry.

The pathologist's conclusion was based on the re-enactment by stuntman Mohd Haslin Azriff Ramley and discovery of scratch marks on the paintwork on the wall of the pantry, soles of the deceased's shoes, belt buckle, bruise marks on the victim's hands and his body position which was directly below the window.

"There were white marks on the victim's left shoe sole, but the marks were not clear as they brushed against the rear of the victim's pants when he fell. There were also scratch marks on the belt buckle, indicating that the victim tried to get back into the pantry through the window," said Dr Shahrom.

Dr Shahrom said the re-enactment by the stuntman indicated the victim was believed to have fallen backwards when his right foot slipped from the window ledge, with the fall causing serious injuries, fracturing the skull and knees.

"Apart from that, there was no sign that the victim was forced out of the window.

"Had the victim been forced out of the window, there would have been injuries on his abdomen as he would have fought the attacker and there would have been signs of a struggle at the scene," he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Haslin, who also testified at the inquest, said it was not easy to get out of the window, as he spent between three and four minutes to do so.

The 31st witness said, despite his stunt experience, he was nervous and had cold feet when he tried to climb out of the window.

Ahmad Sarbaini, 56, of the Port Klang Customs Department, was found dead on the first floor badminton court of the MACC building on April 6.

He was reported to have gone to the office voluntarily, in connection with a corruption investigation involving 62 customs officers.

The inquest will resume before Coroner Aizatul Akmal Maharan Thursday.

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