Ambank Founder Murder Case: DNA In Cigarette Butt Consistent With Accused’s DNA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- A witness told the High Court here Thursday that the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in one of the four cigarette butts found at the location where the founder of Arab-Malaysian Banking Group (AmBank), Hussain Ahmad Najadi was killed, was consistent with the DNA of the accused, Koong Swee Kwan.

Chemistry Department Crime DNA Unit Head, Dr Seah Lay Hong, 53, told the court that the results were obtained from the test conducted after the accused's blood samples were received on Oct 2, 2013.

"On my comparison, Koong's DNA profile matched with one of the exhibits, the cigarette butt, indicating a common origin," she said.

When asked by Deputy Public Prosecutor T.Deepa Nair during the examination-in-chief on how Koong's DNA could be found on the cigarette butt, she explained that the cigarette had been smoked, put in the mouth of the smoker (Koong) and saliva had been transferred, posting his DNA on it.

Seah was giving evidence at the trial of Koong, 45, a tow-truck operator, who was alleged to have murdered Hussain, 75, at the Kuan Yin Temple car park at No.4 Lorong Ceylon, here at between 1.30pm and 2pm on July 29, 2013.

Koong was also alleged to have attempted to murder Hussain's wife, Cheong Mei Kuen, 49, at the same place and time.

Seah, who was the prosecution's 13th witness told the court that she received four samples of cigarette butts in four separate envelopes from an investigation officer from the Dang Wangi Police Headquarters, Inspector Mohd Nor Abdul Wahab, on August 1, 2013.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters Forensic staff officer D10, acting DSP Zuraimi Zam Zam, 45, told the court that he found four cigarette butts in the covered eating area near the temple.

"The cigarette butts were about 10 metres from the body (Hussain) and six metres from the temple," he said, adding that he arrived at the scene at 3.15pm.

The 14th witness at the trial told the court that as soon as he arrived at the scene, he was briefed by investigation officer ASP Ananthan Rajoo before being directed to conduct a check on the body and crime scene.

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Ambank Founder Murder Case: DNA In Cigarette Butt Consistent With Accused's DNA