Hussein looking at his officer conducting a DNA test at the forensic laboratory. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)’s Forensic Laboratory will collaborate with Inter-Asean Police (AseanAPOL) to set up a forensic database on cross-border crime.
Criminal Investigation Department D13 (DNA databank) principal assistant director SAC Hussien Omar Khan said through the information sharing system, Asean would be a region that is committed in combating crimes related to smuggling, drugs, firearm and human trafficking.
“We are now in the process of setting up the forensic database,” he told Bernama in an interview recently, in conjunction with the 209th Police Day.
He said through the database, PDRM would be able to track down suspects more quickly compared to the present where police have to apply officially to Asean countries to obtain the relevant information.
The 10 countries in Asean are Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
However, the forensic database would not have information on terrorists as PDRM already have a special database for the subject, said Hussien.
Meanwhile, he is proud of the progress made by the forensic laboratory in tandem with PDRM’s experience spanning two centuries, particularly its transnational capabilities.
He noted the department’s involvement in disaster victim identification (DVI) investigation in incidents such as the tsunami in Acheh on Dec 26, 2004, AirAsia Indonesia crash on Dec 28, 2014 and MH17 crash in Ukraine on July 17, 2014.
“If DVI expertise is required, we will be involved in the investigation under the Interpol ubmrella by virtue of our vast experience,” he said.
Hussein is also commander of the DVI team of 60 comprising police officers, medical, dental and forensic specialists and chemists.
On PDRM’s forensic laboratory, he said it was set up in 2002 at Cheras and obtained MS ISO/EC 17025:2005 certification from the Department of Standards Malaysia for quality laboratory management system.
He said the equipment and methods used by the laboratory were comparable to those in developed countries.
“PDRM’s forensic experts were trained in Australia and United States and their findings are recognised by these countries,” he said.
Hussien also proposed for every district police headquarters to have their own forensic team, which could facilitate police investigations.
According to him, only police contingents have such a team. — Bernama