IPOH: Traces of semen were not detected on the clothing, mop or mattress sent for analysis to the Chemistry Department, the High Court here heard.

       The department’s DNA Forensic Division director Nor Aidora Saedon said this when testifying in the rape trial of Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong yesterday.

       She said an acid phosphatase (AP) test was carried out to determine if there was any presence of semen on the exhibits.

       “The AP test was an authentic test carried out to know for sure if stains on the fabric and mop were indeed semen.

       “However, when the test was carried out, no semen was found on said exhibits,” she said when replying to deputy public prosecutor Azalina Rashdi.

       When Azalina asked if it was sufficient from her experience to take samples from the site by just using the polilight gadget for analysis later, Nor Aidora said the process was just a form of screening and not an analysis.

       “The Journal of Forensic Science 2006 has stated that polilight effects give a 50% false positive, and thus other tests need to be carried out as confirmation.

       “In this case, since no semen was found on the exhibits, the DNA analysis was not carried out,” she added.

       Earlier, Azalina had asked Nor Aidora why DNA was not traced on the hair exhibit submitted.

       Nor Aidora said there could be several factors, one of which was that the hair root which contains the DNA might be degraded, or the DNA itself degraded from high temperature or humidity.

       “Thus, DNA profiling of the hair was weak or not conclusive enough to make a comparison,” she said.

       When lead counsel Datuk Rajpal Singh questioned if polilight would show a similar colour for semen on its screening as that for blood, urine or tea stains, Nor Aidora agreed.Explaining later, she said, however, stains such as urine, blood or tea could be seen with the naked eye, unlike semen stains.

       “For example, urine stains will remain yellowish, tea stains more brownish, and bloodstains more reddish.

       “However, I carried out the tests on all the samples sent to me to ascertain if indeed there were any semen stains,” she said.

       On Aug 23, 2019, Yong claimed trial at the Ipoh Sessions Court to raping his then 23-year-old Indonesian maid.

       The offence was allegedly committed in a room on the top floor of this house in Meru Desa Park between 8.15pm and 9.15pm on July 7 of that year.