Thursday, July 17, 2008

Faking DNA evidence: Case Study

Dr. John Schneeberger (born 1961) is a former Canadian physician, who drugged and raped one of his female patients and his stepdaughter. For years, he was able to evade arrest by planting a fake DNA sample inside his own body, thus successfully foiling DNA tests.

On the night of 31 October 1992, Schneeberger sedated his 23-year-old patient, Candice, and raped her. While Versed — the anesthetic he used — has strong amnesiac effect, Candice was still able to remember the rape. She reported the crime to the police.

Scheenburger's blood sample was, however, found not to match the samples of the alleged rapist's semen, thus clearing him of suspicion. In 1993, at the victim's request, the test was repeated, but the result was negative, as well. In 1994, the case was closed.

Candice, still convinced that her reminiscences were true, hired Larry O'Brien, a private detective, to investigate the case. He broke into Schneeberger's car and obtained another DNA sample, which, this time, matched the semen on victim's panties and pants. As a result, third official test was organized. The obtained blood sample was, however, found to be too small and of too poor quality to be useful for analysis.

In 1997, Lisa Schneeberger found out that her husband had repeatedly drugged and raped her 15-year-old daughter from her first marriage. She reported him to the police, which ordered fourth DNA test. This time, multiple samples were taken: blood, mouth swab, and hair follicle. All three matched the rapist's semen.

During his 1999 trial, Schneeberger revealed the method he used to foil the DNA tests. He implanted a 15 cm Penrose drain filled with another man's blood and anticoagulants in his arm. During tests, he tricked the laboratory technician to obtain blood sample from the place the tube was planted.

He was found guilty of sexual assault, of administering a noxious substance, and of obstruction of justice, and received a six-year prison sentence.

(Source: From Wikipedia)

The value of DNA evidence has to be seen in light of recent cases where criminals planted fake DNA samples at crime scenes. In the case above, Dr John Schneeberger planted fake DNA evidence in his own body: Dr. Schneeberger raped his sedated patients and left semen on her underwear. Police drew Schneeberger's blood and compared its DNA against the crime scene semen DNA on three occasions, never showing a match. It turned out that he had surgically inserted a Penrose drain into his arm and filled it with foreign blood and anticoagulants.

A Penrose drain is a surgical device placed in a wound to drain fluid. It consists of a soft rubber tube placed in a wound area to prevent the build up of fluid.

A Penrose drain removes fluid from a wound area. Frequently it is put in place by a surgeon after a procedure is complete to prevent the area from accumulating fluid, such as blood, which could serve as a medium for bacteria to grow in.

An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting. A group of pharmaceuticals called anticoagulants can be used in vivo as a medication for thrombotic disorders.

Anticoagulants are given to people to stop thrombosis (blood clotting inappropriately in the blood vessels).

Read more about DNA: Genetic fingerprinting at Wikipedia: DNA Test

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Anwar, please don't give your DNA. Unless by court order. That boy claimed that he was sodomised two days before the report. He was sent for medical examination one or two days after that. Overall three or four days his anal specimen. Mind you this anal specimen consist of stool and DNA from all the food he took. Even if he do not defecate within that four days (very unusual for male), very-very dificult to take so call semen specimen from rectum. Unless sombody prepare it.
Vagina may be can maintain semen upto four days but rectum and anal canal - no way.

CSI

Anonymous said...

I bump into that article too.

However, the faking tricks will not work for today DNA test technology. Because multiple sample are used, and beside blood, hair, mouth swab,etc are obtained.

If Anwar insist, he can just give his hair and mouth swab than giving blood for DNA test.

BTW, Malaysia Police CSI team already CRASH LANDED, because they want the graduate train from the forensic school to meet the cadet school entry requirement : no spectacle. ;)

Sue.Aleen said...

mave,
i bumped into a news, sorry if this would be long.

Berita Harian
Rabu 30 Disember 1998
11 Ramadan 1419

KUALA LUMPUR, Selasa - Seorang pakar forensik Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini bahawa contoh darah Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tidak boleh digunakan untuk ujian DNA kerana ia diambil dan disediakan bagi ujian HIV, Hepatitis B dan VD (penyakit kelamin).

Dr Zahari Noor berkata, oleh kerana itu beliau menolak permintaan polis sebanyak dua kali supaya contoh darah itu digunakan untuk ujian DNA. Menurutnya, ketika di Ibu Pejabat Polis Bukit Aman pada 28 September lalu bagi mengambil darah Anwar, beliau ditanya oleh Asisten Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof sama ada ujian DNA boleh dilakukan terhadap Anwar. Katanya, beliau menasihatkan polis supaya tidak mengambil darah Anwar untuk ujian DNA kerana Anwar hanya memberi persetujuan supaya darahnya digunakan bagi ujian HIV, Hepatitis B dan VD.

"Pada 15 Oktober lalu, Mohd Rodwan dan SAC I (Senior Asisten Komisioner) Musa Hassan datang ke HKL dan bertanya sama ada mereka boleh mengambil contoh darah Anwar untuk analisis DNA," katanya.

Dr Zahari: Kami memberikan empat sebab kepada polis mengapa ujian DNA tidak boleh dilakukan terhadap darah Anwar:

* contoh itu tidak disediakan untuk analisis DNA,

* ia tidak sesuai untuk ujian DNA,

* pendapat kami ialah keputusan ujian DNA itu tidak boleh dipercayai.

* ia boleh membawa keputusan yang mengelirukan kerana kami menyimpan contoh darah itu di dalam bekas biasa tanpa pengawet atau EDTA.

Katanya, mereka kemudian mencadangkan kepada polis bahawa mereka bersedia pada bila-bila masa untuk mengambil contoh darah Anwar di penjara Sungai Buloh untuk ujian DNA jika tertuduh membenarkannya. Saksi pendakwa ke-20 itu memberi keterangan dalam pemeriksaan utama oleh Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Datuk Abdul Gani Patail pada perbicaraan yang memasuki hari ke-35 itu.

Sebelum itu, Dr Zahari berkata, beliau mengambil contoh darah bekas setiausaha sulit Anwar, Mohamad Azmin Ali dan isterinya, Shamsidar Tahrin dan anak perempuan pasangan itu yang berumur tiga tahun, Farah Afifa pada 29 Julai lalu, bagi ujian DNA.

Katanya, beliau mengambil contoh darah Anwar pada 28 September lalu selepas diminta oleh polis. Bagaimanapun, beliau mengakui HKL tidak menjalankan ujian DNA dan beliau sendiri tidak pernah menjalankan ujian atau mempunyai pengalaman amali dalam teknik terkini DNA kerana ia bukan bidangnya.

Sementara itu, ketika pemeriksaan balas oleh peguam bela Christopher Fernando, Dr Zahari berkata, contoh darah Anwar itu disimpan selama dua bulan setengah sebelum polis mengambilnya pada 9 Disember lalu, bagi dihantar kepada Jabatan Kimia Petaling Jaya untuk ujian DNA.

Fernando: Kelewatan selama dua bulan setengah ini sebelum ia (contoh darah) itu dihantar ke Jabatan Kimia tanpa sebarang bahan awet adalah kelewatan yang melampau.

Dr Zahari: Ya.

Fernando: Saya katakan, hasil keputusan ujian DNA untuk contoh darah ini adalah sesuatu yang boleh dipertikaikan.

Dr Zahari: Ya.

Selain itu, Dr Zahari berkata, jika ada sebarang bahan pengawet atau EDTA dicampur dalam contoh darah Anwar, ia tidak boleh digunakan bagi ujian HIV, Hepatitis B dan sakit kelamin.

Katanya, tujuan mencampurkan pengawet atau EDTA ialah bagi menghalang darah daripada menjadi beku dan ia perlu dilakukan jika darah itu hendak digunakan untuk ujian DNA.

"Mengikut kaedah standard ujian DNA daripada contoh darah, kami mesti meletakkannya dalam bekas yang mengandungi EDTA dan mesti dihantar secepat mungkin dalam tempoh 24 jam kepada ahli kimia," katanya.

Menurutnya, jika ada sebarang kelewatan, contoh darah itu boleh disimpan sama ada di dalam peti dingin beku dan jika makmal jauh, contoh darah akan dihantar dengan pek ais.

Dr Zahari berkata dalam kes ini, ia terlalu 'lewat mengikut standard biasa' kerana darah itu dihantar kepada ahli kimia hanya selepas dua bulan setengah tanpa sebarang pengawet atau EDTA.

Saksi itu kemudian bersetuju dengan Fernando bahawa keputusan ujian DNA, dengan mengambil kira kelewatan dan ketiadaan pengawet dan EDTA, boleh dipertikaikan.

Katanya, untuk mengambil contoh darah bagi ujian DNA, prosedur khas perlu diikuti dan di atas permintaan Fernando, Dr Zahari membuat penjelasan ringkas mengenainya di mahkamah.

Dr Zahari berkata bagi ujian yang khusus, mereka akan memaklumkan perkara yang dikehendaki serta mendapatkan persetujuan pihak yang terbabit.

"Sebagai seorang doktor, saya perlu menyediakan contoh bergantung kepada kehendak ujian seperti yang dipersetujui pihak terbabit. Sebagai contoh, dalam kes ini, Anwar memberikan persetujuan bagi ujian HIV dan Dr Halim Manzar (Ketua Unit Patologi Forensik) hanya menyediakannya untuk ujian HIV," katanya.

Beliau memberitahu mahkamah bahawa contoh darah Anwar disimpan di dalam bekas biasa tanpa bahan pengawet atau EDTA dan beliau mengisi borang khas untuk dihantar ke makmal yang akan menjalankan ujian HIV, iaitu Bank Darah Kebangsaan.

Kepada soalan lain, Dr Zahari mengakui beliau mempunyai pengalaman dan pengetahuan mendalam dalam bidang perubatan forensik dan persediaan bagi pelbagai ujian darah termasuk DNA.

Beliau bersetuju bahawa walaupun ada sedikit keraguan bahawa darah itu sudah dicemari, adalah menjadi keperluan kepada ahli kimia untuk mendapatkan contoh darah lain bagi tujuan perbandingan.

Dr Zahari berkata, berdasarkan pengetahuannya, perkara itu sepatutnya menjadi prosedur standard biasa, kecuali, katanya yang bersetuju dengan Fernando, ujian itu tidak boleh dipercayai.


heh.. did i miss something?

Anonymous said...

DNA evidence is only relevant with competent and trustworthy medical staffs. Nothing can beat the kangaroos, not even rock solid evidences.

Anonymous said...

in malaysia, there is really no need for DNA. if they want to get you, they can cook up the DNA report.

then say, that they have proof cos the 'DNA results' say so.

imagine people raped in police station, police help to commit murder with army C4, and immigrisen record missing. seems like all our govt personnel(from police,army,customs, and etc) are all in a gang together.

Anonymous said...

Hello,

Well, if thats the point Anwar will just have to wait for court order in order to handle over his sample DNA to for checkups. By then people should not make wrong speculations about the authorities.

warrior2 said...

Lets see, a court order issued, his blood is taken, dna test is carried out, etcetc

I can see the cry "fake/manipulated dna test"!

Anonymous said...

I believe for Anwar's current situation, justice can only be seen to be serve if the whole investigation is handled by an independent party preferably not from the Malaysian arena.

Anonymous said...

Why bother with DNA? Anwar was acquitted on his first sodomy charge due to a technicality; the prosecution fail to provide the correct date and time of the alleged incident.

The funny thing was the date and time of the incident was already amended during the trial.

Was the original date and time of the incident the correct one? Was the change in date and time done to provide Anwar with a 'way-out?'

You people only know how to speculate. Try reading up on history once in a while!

Anonymous said...

no wonder anwar was acquited - he faked his DNA in his first trial. the second trial he is not getting away with it........

ps: you used a wrong case study in this sense.....

Anonymous said...

denzook,

You seem to be a baseborn child who is a product of fake marriage. How will Anwar fake his DNA when it is the authorities who said the sample has shown that he was with a woman yet we were told that it was a sodomy case? And what are they waiting for? Can't you provide him the police report? Where on earth did you see someone accused and denied the report? Stupid. It is your ilk who show how stupid people always remain the same.

Maverick SM said...

CSI,

I am not sure about your contention.

Moo_t,

You may be rather surprise! I reserved comment.

Suealeen,

Thank you for that article. It was a good reference.

Hasilox,

I think we cannot make such passing statement because it would be unfair and unjustified.

Wisdomthinker,

You had a good point.

Warrior2,

From your full statement of comment made, you had in fact already make such assumption on others and ingrained within your cognitive conception of the presumed situation while you had on the pretext impute such dubious presumptions on others whether it is or isn't. What a great idea. This is generally what our ministers do and what coincidence it is with yours. Bakri Zinin said he assumed that Anwar would not be going to IPK after he left the ACA office when he was told that Anwar's car was driving home at 1pm; thus he arrested him at his house. Syed Albar said he received sms that PKR was organizing a group of demonstators at parliament house on the day of the no-confidence motion and said he believed his information was correct and truthful; which turns out to be a false alarmed and he promised to apologise if found untrue; but has yet to apologise because his informer could not verify that it was false; thus it becomes truth. I like your mental behavior which was what I admired about this present regime.

Gan,

It would be a laughable matter when the govt had to engage foreign experts; it would impute the lack of integrity towards the administrators. Thus it is better to get local experts but follow the rules and procedures of the law while ensuring transparency and possibly allows for witness to be present in possible circumstances and situations. Somehow, there still could be a few who may doubt; but what is important is that the courts should be satisfied with what was deemed fit and appropriately done.

Denzook,

Is that you??? Please verify because the sign-in was questionable.

Children should sleep,

I think that is not Denzook; it's someone who fake his sign-in name. I hope it is verified by the right person. I will check it out.

Anonymous said...

Medical staffs can manipulate anything even death, remember M. Osai.

POORDR

Monsterball said...

Yes, DNA samples on their own can be falsified. Its essentially just chemical signature - it can be "planted".

What is very important to make it reliable is the context of where and how the sample was obtained and the integrity of the people doing the investigation.

That's where there is a deep mistrust in the public.

Maverick SM said...

PoorDR,

Ya.

Kittykat46,

Ya, I agree about the perception at stake.

yapchongyee said...

I find it very distressing to read so many comments that keep repeating itself on Anwar's DNA and all that stuff about the corrupt police and the Judiciary; yes I too agree that the police and the Judges of the Malaysian Courts just cannot be trusted, but nobody has even touched on PROOF OF THE EVIDENCE OF THE CORRUPTION OF POLICE AND JUDGES.

We have all been told that Anwar has given the police his ALIBI and that is enough for the police to begin their investigation and only if police in the course of their investigation find other incriminating eveidence that is not consistent with Anwar's Alibi can their ask for other explanation. This procedure has not been adhered to; therefore it is very timely and correct for the public to be suspecious of the intentions of the police. Anwar is right in not providing his DNA because he is not required to do so on grounds "SELF INCRIMINATION", no accused person can be compelled to self incriminate himself. That is the law and it must be adhered to.

The next point that I want to raise to evidence the evil intentions of the police and the judiciary is the fact that SAIFUL HAS CONFESSED TO SODOMY. He has said that he had committed sodomy with Anwar and that said SAIFUL IS A SELF CONFESSED SODOMITE. I am not saying that he did, what i am saying is that he confessed to sodomy and in his confession hs has confessed to being an accomplice to the offence. THIS THEREFORE PLACES THE BURDEN ON THE POLICE AND THE A-G TO instantly PROSECUTE SAIFUL for sodomy based on his confession.

The conviction of Saiful does not necessarily mean that Anwar had participated in the crime because there is no evidence that implicates Anwar; it is for that reason that the Police and the A-G's office wants to FRAME ANWAR WITH FRESH DNA. Everybody knows that DNA has been kept active for centuries, only our sleepy head PM does not know that. From my perspective I believe that Anwar's team ought to consider this approach because that is the law.

Maverick SM said...

Yapchongyee,

You have a very good point.

The fact remains is that Saiful was not charged for being an active sodomite.