your say A certificate to use a highly complicated software? For such a high profile trial of national interest as Anwar’s sodomy II, they have rolled out such low quality actors.

Poser over chemist's equipment

Kgen: A certificate to use highly complicated software? Did she go for a one-day or two-day course in it?

For such a high profile trial of national interest which will determine the future of the country, they have rolled out such low quality actors. A so-called DNA specialist with a certificate.

Furthermore, the value of DNA evidence is tied to a rigorous chain of custody of the samples from the time it is collected to the completion of the test. It also depends on the independence of the testing lab. A sample is also given to the defence to seek independent verification.

DNA evidence is never used as the main evidence, only as supplementary evidence. A judge cannot convict based purely on DNA evidence alone.

In Anwar's case there is no rigorous chain of custody, and the prosecution refuses to hand over any sample to the defence, so what is the value of this so-called DNA evidence? It appears to be all that the prosecution have to convict Anwar.

Anonymous_3e68: Perhaps all the experts we have are now employed overseas and what remains are the pretenders. When they are called to testify before any tribunal their evidence is suspect and their credibility low.

But what is strange is that they seem quite comfortable displaying their lack of expertise before internationally-renowned experts.

Pemerhati: So far, the DNA evidence does not implicate Anwar and is not damaging to his defence. Thus it is hard to understand why so much time and effort is being spent on trying to discredit the evidence given by the chemist.

This line of defence can only be justified and would be expected of any defence counsel if the prosecution had indicated that there is proof that Anwar’s sperm was found in Saiful’s anus.

So far the prosecution has not produced any solid evidence to implicate Anwar and its star witness, Saiful, has been caught lying on at least three occasions.

Xed: Saiful was wearing a towel. How did he stain his underwear and trousers? The missing link is the towel. Don’t tell me it is going to appear at the last moment like Teoh Beng Hock’s suicide note.

HYL: Stop wasting our money with all these farcical evidence! Why don't they just take a gun and shoot Anwar if they want him gone so much? Or just arrest him under ISA since all the PMs and ministers have no power to abolish the ISA without the PDRM’s nod. Justice is truly dead in our Malaysian courts and legislation.

Anonymous_3ea4: For analysis in a court room you require an expert, not a certificate-holder in using the analysis tools. An expert will explain the actual analogue data and its co-relation to the statistical data that the computer calculates.

Seah may be a chemist but again her qualifications only makes her accessible to a job specification, which does not make her an expert. There are many DNA experts in research and forensics analysis at Cold Springs Harbor in the US and also at the Welcomm Trust at Cambridge.

Therefore, please do not say you have an expert... the word expert does not apply to Seah. She is just a chemist and a technician. To be an expert you would have to give several opinions.

And where are Seah’s peer reviews? Has she published any research material on genetics and DNA process, DNA sequencing and other associated applications, etc?

Come on, there are many more individuals out there who hold higher credentials than Seah.

The equipment the Seah is talking about is also obsolete in many ways, especially when it comes to analysing complexities. She is no DNA expert but certified only by an engineer who set up the machine for the labs. This is common in the industry.

RasaMuak: These proceedings are going on like a cartoon. Malaysian courts and judiciary standards have been brought to a real low and is totally disrespected by the foreign countries.

Kangaroo: The sandiwara continues.....

Defence suggests DNA could be from up to 10 men

Kit P: DNA contaminated by multiple sources basically renders it useless as legal evidence. No honest ‘expert’ can conclusive tell you which person A, B, C or D is the real DNA, and which one is contamination.

The DNA test result can no longer pass the standard of ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.

Anon_65b: From a non-consensual act to consensual to a threesome and now... to a group...MALAYSIA BOLEH!

Anonymous_402e: Up to 10 men, now that has to be in Malaysian Book of Records!

 


 

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