Gimme Your DNA

Khairy asked for it in Parliament on the day Anwar was arrested, the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar also wants it and now the PM says a fresh sample must be given (NST 19 July 2008). Why are these politicians so interested in Anwar's DNA? Do they know something which most other Malaysians do not know?

Anwar do not have access to the police report lodged against him. But they want his DNA!

In a press statement, Sivarasa acting as lawyer for Anwar has this to say:

"Statements being made by senior government officials raise concerns as to the credible dispensation of the law, and suggest that a political conspiracy is very much at play in smearing the credibility and reputation of our client. They are making statements imputing that Anwar Ibrahim is not cooperating with the police."

Full statement below.

Press statement by Sivarasa on Anwar's Case Statements being made by senior government officials raise concerns as to the credible dispensation of the law, and suggest that a political conspiracy is very much at play in smearing the credibility and reputation of our client. They are making statements imputing that Anwar Ibrahim is not cooperating with the police. We are referring, as an example, to the comments made by Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar reported on the front page of the New Straits Times, page three of the Star and covered in other printed and electronic media. Syed Hamid should know better than to attempt to exert his influence on this matter. As a Cabinet Member, Syed Hamid’s comments are tantamount to interfering in an ongoing investigation. He is quoted as saying “What is he afraid of? He can have his own doctor present when giving the sample.” Besides being an inappropriate interference in the investigation, these comments show a fundamental misunderstanding of the concerns we are raising regarding the introduction of DNA evidence. In 1998-1999 trials, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim experienced the phenomenon of fabrication of DNA evidence. We had SAC Rodwan illegally removing DNA samples from forensic custody. In cross-examination of the prosecution’s witnesses it was exposed that DNA taken from blood samples was planted on the infamous mattress. When confronted with this fact the prosecution amended its charge and persuaded the judge, Augustine Paul, to expunge the entire DNA evidence from the record, preventing Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s lawyers from responding. The persons who were implicated in the fabrication of evidence during Dato Seri Anwar’s 1998-1999 trials, namely Gani Patail, Musa Hassan, and Rodwan are the same players who are involved in the current case. Today they are in much more powerful positions within the law enforcement apparatus. Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim has even more reason to believe of the probability that DNA evidence will be fabricated once again. This is reasonable because the complainant remains in police custody since 28 June 2008 and the police are also in possession of Anwar Ibrahim’s DNA from the earlier case. Our client’s concerns are therefore not resolved, as Syed Hamid believes, by his handing over a DNA sample through his own doctor or through an international forensic expert. It would have to be independently verified first that all medical examinations and sample taking relating to the complainant were done professionally and without any interference from the police before Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim will consider participating in any DNA analysis. ...source