Aussie expert does not rule out tampering

In response to a question, DNA specialist Dr Brian Leslie McDonald tells the high court that the samples taken with regard to the Sodomy II trial may have been tampered with.

KUALA LUMPUR: DNA samples retrieved from complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and from a towel used by Anwar Ibrahim were possibly contaminated or even tampered with, the Sodomy II trial heard today.

Australian DNA specialist Dr Brian Leslie McDonald, when quizzed by defence lawyer Ram Karpal Singh, said that he could not exclude that possibility.

McDonald testified that there appeared readings of “mixed” DNA samples which indicated the possibility of another “third” individual.

However, he added, local chemists Dr Seah Lay Hong and Nor Aidora Saedon had failed to report that fact, and verify it with further tests.

“Contrary to their own lab guidelines, they should have done further testing on the DNA samples. That was not done, they ignored the presence of those alleles.

“Therefore their interpretation of the DNA readings were not objective,” said the consultant molecular geneticist.

McDonald agreed that the possible “contamination” could have come from a lab officer or a policeman who handled the samples.

He also agreed when Ram Karpal asked if it could also mean that the samples might have been tampered with, saying: “That cannot be excluded”.

Seah had worked on the DNA samples collected from Saiful’s anus while Nor Aidora on samples taken from Anwar’s lock-up.

Their collective evidence had confirmed that there was a match of a sample called “Male Y”, which was one of the most vital points in the prosecution’s case in their attempt to show that Anwar did in fact sodomise Saiful.

Earlier, McDonald also condemned Seah’s work on DNA samples taken from Saiful. He said that her conclusion to have found sperm was mere guess work as it could have readily been cells from saliva or even blood.

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