Discrepancy in Saiful’s swab samples, court told

Saiful Bukhari

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 — Lawyers today questioned the validity of swab samples taken from Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, pointing out discrepancies in two of them.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s defence counsel Sankara Nair drew the court’s attention to samples B4 (body swabs) and B5 (perinanal area) taken from Saiful on June 28, 2008.

The swabs, according to the lawyer were labelled as taken on June 26, 2008 (B4) and either June 26 or August 26, 2008 (B5).

Saiful had first complained of being sodomised on June 28.

“Did you know samples were taken on June 28, but date written on June 26? Did it not strike you as odd?

‎“What would be your duty by way of protocol when you see discrepancy?” Sankara asked Dr Seah Lay Hong, who had received the samples for lab tests on June 30, 2008.

Anwar’s defence counsel accused the forensic scientist of lying and flouting international standards as she did not “report” about the discrepancy.

“I put it to you that by your standards, you ought to have rejected them on the spot.

“If two samples already out of line, shouldn’t you look at other samples with suspicion?” said the lawyer.

Dr Seah maintained that it was not her job to “reject” samples and that she was not responsible for the labelling of the swab samples.

“We are not bound to reject (the samples),” said Dr Seah, to the chagrin of Sankara and other defence lawyers.

The trial will resume this afternoon with deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin reexamining the prosecution witness.

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. - Malaysian Insider