Kota Kinabalu: The Coroner’s Court was told Tuesday that bloodstains found on a loose sheet of paper containing the handwriting of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir matched her Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) profile.
Chemist Nor Aidora Saedon, 52, said the stains were detected on papers marked “Y8”, covering areas Y8(ii) to Y8(vii), and “Y1”, covering Y1(i) and Y1(ii).
In her witness statement, Nor Aidora said the samples were analysed for DNA comparison and the bloodstains were found to be consistent with each other, matching the DNA profile obtained from a bone specimen marked “WK37” and labelled “Zara Qairina Binti Mahathir.”“This indicates that the DNA identified came from the same individual,” she said, adding that the bloodstain found on a paper labelled “WK15(9)(a)” and trace DNA collected from a book labelled “WK13” also matched.
Nor Aidora further said that a mixed DNA profile, consisting of one major female contributor and at least two minor contributors, was obtained from the bloodstain on area “Y8(i)” and from trace DNA on a stationery bag marked “WK1(a)”, books “WK9” and “WK14”, as well as a blanket labelled “WK27”.
“The DNA profile obtained from the bone specimen ‘WK37’ was the major contributor to this mixed sample, while the minor contributors could not be determined conclusively,” she said.
She further told the coroner that the trace of DNA results from transfer contact which can occur through touch or saliva, adding that the analysis was conducted through four process, namely DNA extraction, DNA quantification, DNA amplification and DNA electrophoresis.
Nor Aidora, who was involved in handling the MH17 incident and has 26 years of experience as a chemist, was testifying before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan as the 17th deponent in the inquest into Zara’s death.
She further explained that the papers “Y1” and “Y8” were complementary fits to each other.
According to her, she inspected the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) exhibit bag marked “Y8” and found inside it a piece of paper with several traces indicating the presence of blood. Seven areas were sampled and marked as “Y8(i)”, “Y8(ii)”, “Y8(iii)”, “Y8(iv)”, “Y8(v)”, “Y8(vi)” and “Y8(vii)”.
On Aug 20, at about 2.15pm, Nor Aidora said she examined a paper marked “Y1” in the presence of Nurul Atiqah Mohd Noh, a document examiner from the same department. She found bloodstains on the paper and collected two samples, which she labelled “Y1(i)” and “Y1(ii)”.
Earlier, Nor Aidora further told the coroner that she received a total of 37 exhibits from a policeman on Aug 11 at about 7.05pm, comprising clothing, personal items, books, sheets of paper and several biological specimens, including bones, nails and cotton buds bearing traces of blood.
She said she later received another exhibit bag marked “Y8” from another police officer on Aug 20, at 8.28am.
According to her, all the exhibits were received sealed and intact.
“Throughout the entire process of analysis, the exhibits were under my direct supervision. I can confirm that none of the items was tampered with. Once the analysis was completed, I resealed each exhibit in its original packaging,” said Nor Aidora.
In her testimony, she also explained that Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is a substance found in almost all human cells and is unique to every individual except identical twins, as it contains genetic information inherited from both parents.
“There are specific regions within the DNA that differ among individuals. By analysing 21 genetic loci, a unique DNA profile can be generated in a process known as DNA profiling,” she added.
The Department in Malaysia is equipped with internationally accredited instruments such as Real-Time PCR, Thermal Cycler and Genetic Analyser, and follows globally accepted forensic procedures.
“In my field of work, I usually conduct DNA analysis on biological evidence for forensic cases such as murder, rape, paternity, fights, drug cases, kidnapping, robbery, housebreaking and so on.
“I have also given testimony many times in the High Court, Sessions, Magistrates’ and Syariah Courts. To the best of my knowledge, my testimony was accepted by the Court,” she said.
Trial continues with the child deponent.
