Sep 23, 2011

The "only one in the world", Aussie expert blasts govt's DNA samples


by  Melissa Lee
Only in Malaysia is a favourite phrase of Malaysians themselves, usually used in a slightly derogatory way towards Prime Minister Najib Razak's BN government, which is suffering its biggest credibility crisis in 5 decades of political hegemony.

Bolehland (or anything-goes-land)  is another favourite to describe the rule of former premier Mahathir Mohamad in a reference to his contriversial methods of ramming through all and sundry including blatant falsehoods in order to secure the poltical upperhand in the country.
As such, it comes as no surprise when Australian DNA expert Dr Brian McDonald told Prime Minister Najib Razak's government that it was the only one in the world that could capture a sperm sample from the anus of a sodomy complainant 56 hours after intercourse, leave it in a filing Cabinet for another two days, and then still be able to find DNA that could be matched to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Total of 104 hours, half of which was in a non-clinical environment
According to McDonald, the total time lapse of 104 hours made it one of the longest documented discoveries in the world.
"In my experience the last 20 years, it would give poor results," a scathing McDonald told the court on Thursday.
He was then asked to explain a 1997 article shown to him two days ago by the prosecution that documented a sperm sample as having been found in the rectum after 113 hours.
“That case, along with the 1982 case, are the only two documented. In 99.9 percent of the cases, you cannot find sperm at all after such long hours. However, this case (in Malaysia) is the only one in the world where the sperm can be captured after 56 hours and given to the chemist two days later, where you can still find a good DNA sample," explained the Australian expert.
Credibility of DNA tests in doubt
McDonald said that to his knowledge, and according to some journals, one could can find a good DNA after the sample was retrieved from the rectum after eight hours. Any longer than that was in the realm of the doubtful. "In other cases I have seen eight hours after retrieval, that DNA has been identified," he said.
He added that degradation was a key factor and the credibility of the Malaysian test results were weak given the bizarrely long lapse in time.
Anwar was accused of sodomising a former aide in June 2008, weeks after announcing he would return to active politics. He has blamed Prime Minister Najib Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor for conspiring with the complainant in a bid to destroy his political career.
Both Najib and Rosmah were supoenaed to the the witness stand, but have chickened out and are applying to have the order to appear struck off. The court will hear their application on September 29.
Meanwhile, the trial continues on Friday.

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Source : MC

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