Doc: Seminal stains in 'empty' rectum

A former Hospital Kuala Lumpur surgeon testified that the seminal stain of a sodomy victim can remain in the rectal area for 72 hours.

Dr Mohd Razali Ibrahim said this during the re-examinationby Solicitor-General II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden during the second sodomy trial of Anwar Ibrahim.

“Based on the literature, the seminal stain of the assailant can be in the rectum area for 72 hours. This is based on the fact that the anal canal is not a straight organ and such stains can remain there. Even if there is bowel movement, you may still get a sample.

“It also depends on the anal action and the mass movement (of faeces),” he said.

Razali (right) also testified that he could not remember or did not know who the perpetrator was, and all he knew was that it was an important public figure.

“I cannot remember whether any names were mentioned when I examined Saiful,” he said.

He also told the court that when he inspected sodomy complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s anus and rectum, he did not expect to make any findings until the chemist’s report had shown the seminal stains.

Razali attended to Mohd Saiful at the Kuala Lumpur general hospital but is now attached to the Putrajaya hospital.

During cross-examination by Sankara Nair, Razali said that he had made the conclusion based on his opinion and medical literature but was unable to reference any titles. 

Rectum empty

Razali also maintain his finding that Saiful’s rectum was empty although Saiful had testified that he had not defecated for two days.

“It is not necessary that there be faeces in the lower part of the rectum area as it would be in the upper rectum area... It is not necessary that it will fill up fully the lower part of the rectum area.

“It may depend on the urge to pass motion. I agree, at that time (that) I examined (Saiful), there were no faeces in the lower rectum area,” he said in replying to lead defence counsel Karpal Singh.

When asked by Sankara, Razali agreed he inspected Saiful’s anus at 10pm on June 28, 2008, about 54 hours after the victim was allegedly sodomised at about 4pm on June 26, 2008.

“The rectum was empty of faeces,” he said, prompting Sankara to remark that this was "truly amazing".

Sankara added that this was not stated in the final medical examination report, which was produced on July 13, 2008.

He agreed with the lawyer that it was important to ask the victim of his bowel habits.

Asked if it was normal for a person’s rectum to be filled within 24 hours, Razali disagreed and said that it would depend on the individual concerned.

Razali said that he took two high rectal swabs and one low rectal swab from Saiful and gave them to his colleague Dr Siew Sheue Feng, who placed them in sterile plastic containers.

Asked by Sankara whether he was certain the containers were tightly closed, the witness replied he was unsure as this was done by Siew.

Siew refused to look at notes

Forensic pathologist Siew, who was the next witness, refused to refer to his clinical notes when questioned, like Razali before him. This prompted Karpal to alleged that Siew had been “programmed”.

Asked on the final medical report by three Kuala Lumpur general hospital doctors which states that there we no conclusive clinical findings of penetration into Saiful’s rectum, Siew replied that the conclusion was arrived based on observations that there was no injury to the complainant’s anus.

Siew (right) also said that he only knew that there was a semen sample was obtained from the complainant when he testified in court on Oct 14 during the examination-in-chief by Yusof.

“Prior to that, I do not know where they were taken,” he said.

Siew also testified that the police took several photographs when the doctors were examining Saiful.

He had given instructions to police photographers and they were photographs were kept by investigating officer DSP Jude Blacious Pereira.

Siew said the photographs documented areas where the samples were taken. Photographs of Saiful’s private parts were also taken.

He agreed with Sankara’s suggestion that such photographs, if adduced during the trial, would help further explain the doctors findings.

At times when Siew was testifying, Anwar’s forensic specialist Dr David Wells was seen putting his hand his head in disbelief.

The witness had agreed that Wells’ book was one of those he had used in his forensic studies.

Hearing continues tomorrow.