The Bar Council today welcomed the Attorney-General's decision to allow the family of missing police detainee G Francis Udayappan to carry out an independent DNA test on a highly decomposed corpse.

"These are positive developments, albeit delayed," said council vice-president Yeo Yang Poh in a statement.

"The way should now be cleared for his family to independently employ science to remove the doubt that has hovered for so long," he added.

Earlier DNA tests done with blood samples from Francis' mother G Sara Lily and her estranged husband did not reveal a positive match.

However, Sara is convinced that the remains in the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) mortuary is that of her son based on a tattoo, tooth deformity and visible body marks.

Prolonged anxiety

Yeo said if the family required any assistance to conduct an independent DNA test, the Malaysian Medical Association should take up the case as a matter of public interest.

He also called on the authorities to furnish the family or the medical experts they engage with copies of the earlier DNA tests carried out by the police.

"More can be and should be done by the authorities to alleviate the prolonged anxiety suffered by the family," he said.

Yeo said if the result of the independent DNA test confirms that of the earlier ones, investigations must continue to determine what happened to Francis.

"A transparent inquiry must be promptly conducted, in addition to the inquest into the identity and cause of death of the person whose body now lies in the mortuary," he added.

On the other hand, he said if the DNA test confirms that it is the body of Francis, then his family must immediately be allowed to claim the body and conduct a second independent post mortem while an inquest must swiftly follow.

No more delays

Yeo said the Bar Council hopes that there will be not be any further unnecessary delays in the handling of this matter and added that it will monitor the progress.

"The tragic saga of Francis, with its many twists and turns, has dragged on for far too long, giving rise to an unprecedented case of prolonged torment to his family and an unhealthy atmosphere of mystery and doubt which worsens by the day," he said.

Francis, who was arrested on suspicion of petty theft, was said to have escaped from the Brickfields district police headquarters by jumping into the Klang river on April 16.

However, Sara claimed that her son could have been beaten to death by the police and his body dumped into the river.

A subsequent inquiry into the matter by the federal police headquarters ruled out any foul play but failed to convince the grieving mother.

On May 23, the police recovered the highly decomposed remains of a man from the Klang river which Sara identified as her son but the police insisted on a DNA test.

Yesterday, the family's lawyer N Surendran said he had received a written authorisation from the Attorney-General's Chambers to carry out an independent DNA test.