Anwar defence says multiple DNA profiles on towel

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s lawyers claimed today that multiple DNA profiles were found on four swab samples taken on July 19, 2008 from a “Good Morning” towel — a key evidence exhibit in the Sodomy II trial.

Defence counsel Ramkarpal Singh said that based on an electropharogram test done by chemist Nor Aidora Saedon on the towel, graph results showed that there were two DNA profiles — that of “Male Y” and that of an unknown DNA profile (18 allele).

Nor Aidora said that based on DNA tests done, DNA profiles had been identified on the towel, a toothbrush as well as a mineral water bottle.

She had already testified on February 23 that the DNA profiles found on the said items matched that of an unknown “Male Y”, whose sperm extracts had been found in Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s anus earlier.

Ramkarpal suggested earlier today that the detection of three alleles in the towel samples — 15, 18, 19 allele — meant that there was another DNA profile besides Male Y and also excluding Saiful’s alleles (12, 13).

The alleles for Male Y are 15, 19.

The contention today was on the presence of 18 allele, which Ramkarpal claimed was solid evidence of another person, which would back up the defence team’s arguments of contamination of the evidence samples in the case.

The defence lawyer attacked Nor Aidora for not following standard guidelines in identifying the additional allele and noting it down, after the chemist admitted that she did not think it was necessary to be put in the report.

“I put it to you that if you applied validated guidelines to this profile you would have come up with a mixed profile.

“The mixture would have pointed out to another person’s DNA which would have contaminated profile in page 9,” the lawyer said today.

Nor Aidora, in response, disagreed with Ramkarpal’s argument and insisted that the DNA she tested came from a single contributor (Male Y).

She said that graph test readings showed that 18 allele was not substantial enough to be read as another DNA profile.

She appeared visibly annoyed when Ramkarpal accused her staff in the Chemistry Department of possibly contaminating the evidence samples.

“There is no contamination by my staff or anyone else. It’s a single profile as reported.

“I admit (the) complainant and male Y do not have 18 allele, but I disagree that 18 allele means DNA of another person contaminated the samples,” said Nor Aidora.

She also maintained that despite not following standard guidelines in conducting the tests, protocol had been observed based on methods adopted by her department.

The trial resumes on Monday with the cross-examination of ASP Fauziah Che Mat.

Saiful had complained that Anwar, his ex-boss, had sodomised him at a luxury condominium in upper-class Bukit Damansara here on June 26, 2008.

Saiful, now aged 25, has never named anyone else.

Anwar, the 63-year-old PKR de facto leader, is currently facing sodomy charges for the second time in his life.

He has denied the charge, describing it as “evil, frivolous lies by those in power” when the charge was read out to him.

He is charged under section 377B of the Penal Code and can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years’ jail and whipping upon conviction. The trial is taking place 18 months after Anwar was charged in court in August 2008.

He was charged with sodomy and corruption in 1998 after he was sacked from the Cabinet and was later convicted and jailed for both offences.

He was freed in September 2004 and later resurrected his political career by winning back his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in a by-election in 2008, which had been held in the interim by his wife.

He led the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, to a historic sweep of five states and 82 parliamentary seats in Election 2008. - Malaysian Insider