Court told DNA profiles from two individuals
MIRI: TheHighCourtherehearing the trial of four individuals charged with killing social activist Bill Kayong in June last year was told that from the 48 exhibits analysed, there were two contributors to the deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) profiles.
Zaliha Suadi, the 12th witness who is a scientific officer from the Chemistry Department in Kuching, said the two contributors were the first accused Mohamad Fitri Pauzi and the other was an individual, who did not match with other references of the case.
“From the electropherogram which I used for comparison, it showed that Mohamad Fitri Pauzi is only a minor contributor.
“But out of the 16 rows which is in the summary of the STR (short tandem repeat) results, 13 locations matched Mohamad Fitri Pauzi – meaning that it is weak but 13 locations matched and thus,
But out of the 16 rows which is in the summary of the STR (short tandem repeat) results, 13 locations matched Mohamad Fitri Pauzi – meaning that it is weak but 13 locations matched and thus, can’t be excluded.
can’t be excluded,” said Zaliha when testifying before Judge Ravinthran N Paramaguru.
Among the exhibits were a pair of jeans, T- shirt, blood samples, cigarette butts, nail clippings, hair strains, face mask and pouch.
When cross-examined by counsel Ranbir Singh on whether there was any possibility that the exhibits were contaminated, Zaliha said there was none although she was assisted by senior laboratory officer Hamidon in analysing the exhibits. Four exhibits were handed to Mohd Riduan Md Bakhair for criminalistics analysis.
Moreover, she was the only one who could open the exhibits from the packages which were properly labelled and stored in the strong room, located in the Serology Lab of the department.
The 48 exhibits were received from investigating officer, ASP Lee Chee Keat, on July 21 last year.
Besides Zaliha, two witnesses – both from the Special Investigating Division, D9 of the Police Headquarters, Kuching - ASP Lawrence Rawing and ASP Francis Boniface Baraw also testified in the same court.
Lawrence told the court that he together with three police personnel had arrested Mohd Fitri on the compound of Miri Central police station on June 30 June last year at 5.15pm, while Francis and his team arrested the second accused, Lie Chang Loon, at a restaurant on the same day at 8.10pm.
Cross- examined by Ranbir, Lawrence denied manhandling Mohd Fitri, who surrendered himself freely to police.
Hearing continues today, where another chemist is scheduled to testify on the case.
Mohamad Fitri Pauzi, of Dawai1 Road, Pujut 4D, is charged together with four others (one still at large) with the murder of Bill on June 21 last year.
Three other locals – Lie Chang Loon, 38, from Pin Fook Garden; Datuk Stephen Lee Chee Kiang, 46 of Woodhouse Road; and Chin Wui Ching, 51 of Lane 5 Krokop – are charged with abetting Mohd Fitri – an offence punishable under Section 109 read together with Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Zaliha Suadi, scientific officer from Chemistry Department