Lim is likely to clarify the status of the department's forensic lab certification under ISO 17025, which is evaluated by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board, or ASCLD.
The status is in disputefollowing revelations that the forensic lab has not obtained the 17025 certification.However, the focus today will certainly be on the identity of the mystery witness for Anwar Ibrahim's defence.
The individual is not on the prosecution's list of 71 witnesses and is not an alibi witness.
Lawyers for Anwar have been tightlipped over the identity of the witness for fear that undue pressure could be put on the person.
It is learnt that this was a tit-for-tat move on the part of the defence in response to the prosecution's failure to provide a list of their witnesses earlier in the trial.
However, the defence team has revealed that spine specialist Dr Thomas Hoogland, who operated on Anwar's back, will testify on Thursday.
LIVE REPORTS
9.08am: There is still no clues yet as to who is the mystery witness for the defence.
The prosecutors led by solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden are already in court.
9.17am: It is learnt that Anwar Ibrahim met with Teoh Beng Hock's parents on the third floor of the Jalan Duta court complex.
Meng Kee, Teoh's brother has filed a judicial review application over the royal commission of inquiry findings.
Anwar, the accused, is now in court.
9.22am: Lead defence counsel Karpal Singh arrives.
9.48am: Court proceeding begins with Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah presiding.
Lim Kong Boon, the director of Forensic division takes the stand.
9.54am: Lim, 57, who had testified in the first sodomy trial more than a decade ago, said that in 2005, he was head of the serious crimes unit of the division.
Responding to questions from Ramkarpal Singh, Lim said that since 2005, the division was under the Legacy programme of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board ASCLD.
9.59am: He said since then, their application had been extended three times by ASCLD.
Lim testified that the Legacy programme ended last year, but was extended.
"We were granted an extension on April 18, 2011, until Oct 18, 2011."
10.02am: Lim says the Legacy programme is not the ISO 17025 certification.
"It is a different programme."
He denied suggestions that the lab is not competent, but said the ASCLD had yet to evaluate the lab.
Lim is now being questioned by Yusof.
10.05am: In replying to questions from Yusof, the witness says they did apply for ISO 17025 with (standards regulatory authority) Sirim, as they applied in 2000, but they said it is not relevant for the Forensic division to apply to.
10.07am: The extension, he says, was to provide time for the transition from the Legacy programme to the International programme.
"The international programme comprises of ISO 17025, as the international programme is more stringent as it complies to international standards and also applies to supplemental requirement for forensic science lab."
"These are addition to 17025."
10.10m: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah arrives.
10.11am: Lim says the ISO 17025 is insufficient alone in forensic testing.
"We are still accreditated to the Legacy programme."
[More to follow]
I don't really believe that ISO certification is not enough. That's why it's called ISO, the International Standards Organization. They provide all the standards for the worlds businesses, etc. I think they should have to take the ISO Certification Training again.
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