John Doe inquest: DNA expert tells why test is credible
Fauwaz Abdul AzizPublished: Feb 17, 2005 12:00 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
A DNA expert today told an inquest, held to determine the identity of a body lying in a hospital morgue since last May, why the results from the test she had conducted on the remains is credible.
A DNA expert today told an inquest, held to determine the identity of a body lying in a hospital morgue since last May, why the results from the test she had conducted on the remains is credible.
Dr Chang Yuet Meng, was first asked by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Ishak Mohd Yusoff , to tell the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court of her credentials, experience and qualifications.
The doctor, who heads the DNA laboratory at the Malaysian Department of Chemistry where the analysis was conducted, then revealed her local and foreign degrees, various training stints abroad as well as the academic papers written in her capacity as a forensics scientist specialising in DNA analysis.
"In all of the DNA results and interpretations that were reported for proficiency testing , they were all correct," she told magistrate Nazran Mohd Sham, who is acting as a coroner, when quizzed on her track record.
Chang was also asked to list the sophisticated technology and instruments as well as the stringent procedures involved in the DNA profiling.
The DNA test was carried out last July to determine if the highly-decomposed body at the University Malaya Medical Centre was that of missing police detainee G Francis Udayappan.
However, the test done with a blood sample from the detainee's mother G Sara Lilly had failed to produce a match.
Operating procedures
Chang then explained the procedures taken to avoid the possibility of a mix-up of DNA specimens.
"The Department of Chemistry follows guidelines and standard operating procedures with regards to sampling, handling, preserving and security of exhibits. Each case is given a unique laboratory number at the time of receipt on each item of the case and are marked with this reference number.
"A custody form is used to document and report the movement (of an exhibit), from the time it is received to the time of (return), and includes all the information pertaining to sample storage, preservation, who take what, at what date, what time, and for what purpose.
"All the items on each of the exhibit is received and are put in plastics marked with the same laboratory number before they are packed in the freezer so that there will not be any chance of exhibit mix-up," she said.
Francis, 24, was said to have escaped from the Brickfields police headquarters last April by jumping into the nearby Klang river.
However, his mother has consistently maintained that he had been assaulted and dumped into the river by the police.
A police investigation later ruled out any possibility of foul play but this did not convince Sara Lily, who is also sure that the highly decomposed remains in the morgue is that of her son based on a tattoo and teeth deformity.
The remains had been fished out from the Klang river on May 23.
Dr Chang Yuet Meng, was first asked by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Ishak Mohd Yusoff , to tell the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court of her credentials, experience and qualifications.
The doctor, who heads the DNA laboratory at the Malaysian Department of Chemistry where the analysis was conducted, then revealed her local and foreign degrees, various training stints abroad as well as the academic papers written in her capacity as a forensics scientist specialising in DNA analysis.
"In all of the DNA results and interpretations that were reported for proficiency testing , they were all correct," she told magistrate Nazran Mohd Sham, who is acting as a coroner, when quizzed on her track record.
Chang was also asked to list the sophisticated technology and instruments as well as the stringent procedures involved in the DNA profiling.
The DNA test was carried out last July to determine if the highly-decomposed body at the University Malaya Medical Centre was that of missing police detainee G Francis Udayappan. However, the test done with a blood sample from the detainee's mother G Sara Lilly had failed to produce a match.
Operating procedures
Chang then explained the procedures taken to avoid the possibility of a mix-up of DNA specimens.
"The Department of Chemistry follows guidelines and standard operating procedures with regards to sampling, handling, preserving and security of exhibits. Each case is given a unique laboratory number at the time of receipt on each item of the case and are marked with this reference number.
"A custody form is used to document and report the movement (of an exhibit), from the time it is received to the time of (return), and includes all the information pertaining to sample storage, preservation, who take what, at what date, what time, and for what purpose.
"All the items on each of the exhibit is received and are put in plastics marked with the same laboratory number before they are packed in the freezer so that there will not be any chance of exhibit mix-up," she said.
Francis, 24, was said to have escaped from the Brickfields police headquarters last April by jumping into the nearby Klang river.
However, his mother has consistently maintained that he had been assaulted and dumped into the river by the police.
A police investigation later ruled out any possibility of foul play but this did not convince Sara Lily, who is also sure that the highly decomposed remains in the morgue is that of her son based on a tattoo and teeth deformity.
The remains had been fished out from the Klang river on May 23.
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