Posted on 10/17/2010 4:14:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Director of Forensic Department speaks to Emirates 24|7 about the importance of forensics in challenging cases
The number of criminal cases in the Emirates has decreased in recent years.
Homicide rate in Dubai is just about 1.5 per cent per 100,000 of the population. And this can be attributed to judicial system and efficient forensic department, which ensure no criminal goes scot-free.
In fact, authorities at the criminal investigation department (CID) as well as judiciary value the authenticity of forensic reports to accounts of witnesses in homicide cases.
Emirates 24|7 caught up with Professor Fawzi bin Omran, Director of Forensic Medicine Department at the Dubai Police, to learn more about the functioning of the department, the importance of forensic reports in investigations, crime rate in the UAE, etc.
During his long career, which included stints in the UK and Libya, bin Omran saw several sensational and interesting cases, including the very recent Suzanne Tamim murder case.
To begin with, a forensic medical examiner should be impartial and honest. He should provide a concise and comprehensive written report without using technical or medical jargon, he said.
At the Department of Forensic Medicince in Dubai Police, "we mostly see cases of physical assault and homicides. And some cases of natural deaths, where the attending physicians do not provide medical certificates".
As far as solving cases is concerned, simple clues lead them to the culprits. Recalling a case, bin Omran said: "A woman's body was found in garbage bin wrapped in a towel. And the autopsy report stated she had been strangled to death after being physically attacked. Now here, the towel was the clue, as it had the name of the hotel imprinted. It led them to a couple staying in that hotel, with whom was found jewellery belonging to the slain woman. SO it was concluded that the motive behind the killing was theft."
To begin with, no forensic investigation will begin unless the medical examiner determines it is a homicide case, bin Omran said.
In most instances, the more challenging cases will not be newsworthy, as the media tries to play up only cases involving celebrities. A layman's case could be very daunting for us, but it will not make headlines, he added. For example, Suzanne Tamim case got publicity because the victim was famous. There are several cases where the forensic department offers the breakthrough, but does not get mentioned.
Recalling one such case, bin Omran said: "A body was found in peices inside a suitcase at the enterance of a building. The man's relatives, who had in fact cut him into pieces, claimed that they found the suitcase with his body and did not know anything about the crime. However, detailed forensic investigations confirmed that the man had committed suicide. He was later packed into a suitcase by the relatives because they wanted his insurance amount."
Bin Omran spoke of another incident where the department helped clear a case of smuggling, where the deceased had swallowed 50 capsules containing heroin, and one of them burst causing his death.
“In cases where medical evidence is involved, such as homicides, assaults, sexual crimes, the court relies on forensic reports.
He said films usually exaggerate things."Forensic experts solve cases very dramatically in films. However, some writers talk to forensic experts for writing their stories. And usually such books seem more real."
Majority of case never gets reported. Crimes against minorities or women never get reported.
Dubai is a hub for drug trading, smuggling and prostitution. It seems they are not considered as crime.
Whole report is a joke.
As long as ‘someone’ is arrested, your statistics can be kept very low.
>Whole report is a joke.<
.
Typical taqiyya reporting.
The problem is that Shariah law doesn’t take forensic science into account. They’re still going to mandate that a woman claiming rape needs 4 male witnesses and all that fun and games. They still will count a supposed eyewitness (who is likely lying) over physical evidence which is far more reliable. It’ll be a long time, if ever, that they break that cultural barrier. I wouldn’t hold my breath.
They’d still believe a rapist even if the DNA proved him wrong.
BINGO!
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