The forensics officer who managed the scene of Teoh Beng Hock’s death at the MACC Selangor building said did not lift any fingerprints found at the scene at the time, because they lacked sufficient “characteristics”.

NONE Testifying before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh's death, chief inspector Mazli Jusoh Che Kob ( left ) said he was only able to find three to four characteristics on prints he discovered on the 14th floor window frame of Plaza Masalam, through which the DAP political aide allegedly fell to his death two years ago.

Questioned by MACC counsel Shafee Abdullah, Mazli said a readable fingerprint would require at least eight clear characteristics to be considered for lifting.

Based on this, he testified, he decided not to lift the prints or take pictures of the partial prints.

Mazli said the prints were only partially obtainable because of the build-up of dust on the window frame.

However, he said, the prints were fresh as there were visible characteristics that had  not been covered by fresh dust then. 

RCI chair refers to CSI series

At this juncture, RCI chairperson James Foong told Mazli that he should have lifted the prints even if it gave nothing conclusive, stressing that every bit of evidence would help a case.

Taking the example of popular crime drama television series CSI, the federal court judge said it would be unreasonable to expect to find a perfect fingerprint at a crime scene.

"Even if it's four or two characteristics, that would be enough. It may not be conclusive, but it would help balance the probability (of an individual's involvement).

NONE "If the print is perfect, then I wouldn't need you. I could do it myself," Foong said, getting chuckles from the gallery.

Foong also tickled the courtroom during the earlier examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Kwan Li Sa, when he complained of the poor quality of photos tendered as evidence.

Mazli later replied in the affirmative that his department was still using the same camera used to take photographs of the scene where Teoh was found dead.

Foong (left) interjected, saying: “It’s time to get a new camera”.

Cops called in for ‘suicide’

Mazli was the sixth witness called before the inquiry.

Earlier this morning, the RCI also briefly called in Koperal Abdul Karim Othman, the officer who issued the despatch order after witnesses who reported Teoh's death had been called.

azlan Abdul Karim in his testimony confirmed that a witness called in to inform the police that someone had committed suicide at Plaza Masalam.

Teoh, who was a political aide to Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor landing of Plaza Masalam on July 16, 2009.

The night before, he was called in for questioning by the MACC, which had it's Selangor office at the 14th floor of the building at the time.

The RCI was formed after an 18-month long inquest into Teoh's death returned an open verdict.

Mazli is expected to continue giving his testimony when the inquiry resumes on Monday.

The RCI began its investigations on Feb 14 and has up three months from Jan 26 to complete their investigations.