Forensic lab goes high-tech<\/p>\n
By K. Basrie<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Only a few people know that the National
\nPolice's Forensic Laboratory Center is home to an array of the
\nworld's latest forensic technologies.<\/p>\n
\"We dare to claim that our laboratory is the best police
\nforensic laboratory in Southeast Asia,\" said the center's head
\nBrig. Gen. Untung Haryono in an interview with The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The laboratory, which analyzes material evidence in serious
\ncrime cases, owns lie detectors and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
\ntesters, both of which were used to investigate the starlet Ria
\nIrawan's alleged involvement in the death of a businessman and in
\nthe murder case of East Java labor heroine Marsinah.<\/p>\n
\"We actually have had the lie detectors since 1980,\" said
\nsenior staff member Col. Dudon Satia Putra. Another staffer,
\nCapt. James, added that DNA testing has been used at the center
\nsince 1992.<\/p>\n
Located in a four-story building at the National Police
\nHeadquarters on Jl. Trunojoyo in South Jakarta, the forensic
\ncenter was established in 1954.<\/p>\n
\"Japan's police forensic laboratory is probably one of the
\nbest in the world and we also have some of the same equipment,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Unclean rooms<\/p>\n
The laboratory also possesses a sophisticated Hewlett Packard
\nGC-IRD-MS device, which combines gas chromatography, an infra-red
\ndetector and a mass spectrometer.<\/p>\n
The fully-computerized device can be used for material
\nidentification for narcotics, firearms, drugs, polluted matter,
\nash and toxic material.<\/p>\n
Sophisticated equipment such as an absorbance detector, a
\nliquid chromatograph, an ultra violet spectrometer and a detector
\nfor flammable liquid are also available at the center.<\/p>\n
According to James, a series of new devices, including the
\nlatest lie detectors and DNA testing devices, will arrive by the
\nend of this year.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, the laboratory still utilizes quite a lot of old
\nequipment, especially in the area of optical equipment.<\/p>\n
Most of the tools are kept in unclean rooms, but laboratory
\nofficials say that the buildings will be renovated to ensure
\nbetter storing of the expensive equipment.<\/p>\n
Investment<\/p>\n
Most of the laboratory's 122 staff members, 95 percent of whom
\nare police members, are experts from different disciplines, such
\nas aeronautics, chemistry, explosives, fire, arson and sabotage.
\nSome of them have been trained overseas, some at the Bundes
\nKriminal Amt in Germany.<\/p>\n
\"Some of our staff are still studying in other countries, like
\nIndia,\" said Untung, a graduate of the Overseas Command Course at
\nthe Police Staff College in United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
Senior officers say that substantial investment is necessary
\nto have such sophisticated tools and equipment and that trained
\npersonnel is vital.<\/p>\n
\"It takes a lot of time and money to make personnel truly
\nprofessional,\" Dodon said.<\/p>\n
Untung added, \"Crimes in the future will use high-technology
\nand we have to anticipate it now.\"<\/p>\n
The laboratory currently has branches in Ujungpandang (South
\nSulawesi), Surabaya (East Java), Semarang (Central Java) and
\nMedan (North Sumatra).<\/p>\n
The center in Jakarta takes orders from police in the capital,
\nWest Java, Kalimantan and South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
\"We handle things that the branches cannot do because we are
\nbetter equipped,\" Untung said.<\/p>\n
Some neighboring countries like Malaysia have also used the
\nlaboratory. (bsr)<\/p>",
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