SEPANG: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have deployed eight Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) experts to Indonesia to assist in the search and forensic processes involving AirAsia QZ8501.
Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh said the team comprising six officers and two personnel were expected to be in Indonesia for a month and based either in Surabaya or Pengkalan Bun.
According to him, the team consists of a fingerprint expert, forensic photographer, accident investigation experts and experienced divers.
“They have vast experience in their respective fields and were involved in forensic work involving victims of MH17 in Ukraine and the tsunami in Aceh,” he said.
He said this at a press conference in conjunction with the DVI team’s send-off to Indonesia at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) here yesterday.
Mohmad said the team headed by Bukit Aman CID deputy director (Forensic, Databank DNA/Strategic Planning) SAC Narenasegaran Thangaveloo would be enhanced with additional members should there be a request from Indonesia.
He said the mission was initiated in the spirit of Asean following Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s discussions with his Indonesian counterpart.
“Actually the team was already on standby mode as soon as the ill-fated aircraft was confirmed to belong to Indonesia,” he said.
The Airbus A320-200, carrying 162 passengers and crew left Surabaya, Indonesia at 5.20am on Dec 28 (Sunday) and was expected to arrive at Changi Airport in Singapore at 8.30am the same day.
AirAsia Flight QZ8501’s last contact with air traffic control was at 6.12am Indonesian time (7.12am Malaysian time). — Bernama