Of pubic hair and underwears

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial continued this morning with the prosecution and defence splitting hairs.

The bone of contention was a single strand of hair, which the prosecution claimed was from the pubic region, while the defence argued against it.

“How would Dr Seah know (where the hair came from)?” asked defence counsel Sankara Nair.

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Noordin Hasaan, the information was contained in the report furnished by Seah.

However, Sankara argued that the exhibit should be labelled as a “strand of hair” without being specific as to where it orginated from.

Dr Seah Lay Hong is the head of the Chemistry Department’s serious crime unit.

Apart from this, two pairs of underwears, a Ralph Lauren shirt and a pair of black trousers, which contained semen stains, were also tendered as exhibits.

The items are believed to belong to Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who has accused Anwar of sodomising him. Also in the list of exhibits were a carpet and a gray-coloured bedsheet.

The trial kicked off today with Seah taking the witness stand again.

Anwar, 63, is charged with sodomising Saiful, 25, at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

Yesterday, Seah, who performed the DNA tests in the case, was on the stand for less than five minutes before erratic power supply during the afternoon at the Kuala Lumpur High Court forced an adjournment.

Seah said she started the DNA testing on July 1, 2008 and the analysis was completed on July 5.

She said she found semen on swabs B5, B7, B8, B9.

These were earlier identified as samples taken from the peri-anal, lower and upper rectum of Saiful.

Seah also told the court of the presence of semen belonging to “male Y” from one of two seminal stains lifted from an underwear belonging to Saiful, according to a Bernama report.

She confirmed the presence of semen belonging to “male Y” on the four swabs with the first swab from the para-anal region, two from high rectal areas and one at low rectal area of the complainant.

She, however, did not name or identify the “male Y” in her report.

She said no seminal stains of “male Y” were found on the multi-coloured carpet and a duvet seized from the room of a condominium unit where the alleged offence was committed.

Crucial role

During examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin, Seah said she also carried out tests on two long-sleeved shirts and a dark blue underwear on the request of investigation officer DSP Judy Blaucious Pereira.

The fifth prosecution witness told the court results from the exhibits were negative, indicating that semen belonging to “male Y” was not present.

“However, two seminal stains found on a pair of black trousers belonging to Saiful, confirmed it belongs to the owner,” said Seah.

The chemistry report tendered as exhibit also revealed that sample B5 taken from para-anal area consisted of male DNA of Saiful, male Y and another unidentified male contributor.

When asked to explain the scientific method she carried out before preparing her report, Seah explained in detail on the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing using the multiplex polymerase chain technique.

Questioned further by Noorin on how long seminal stain specifically spermatazoa could remain to facilitate DNA testing, Seah said humidity played a crucial role.

“If it is exposed to dry and cool weather, then it is possible to remain for a considerable time,” said the chemist.

To another question by Noorin on how long semen could remain in the body in case of sodomy, Seah said that it was not her expertise since her work was more confined to carrying out laboratory examination.

Earlier, she said that she first received 12 envelopes containing 12 exhibits marked B to B11 on June 30, 2008 from Pereira and followed by six more envelopes and two packages on July 1 2008.

Australian DNA expert Dr Brian Mcdonald was present in court to assist the defence team.

Hearing before Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah resumes tomorrow.