DVI Now Relying on DNA Comparison Data for Virgo Ship Victims

The Head of the Police Forensic Bureau, Brigadier General Dr Sumy Hastry Purwanti, stated that the DVI team is currently relying on DNA comparison data to identify the victims of the sinking of the Virgo Transport 8.

“The bodies of the victims found are already difficult to recognise, so the examination relies heavily on DNA comparison data,” she said in Banjarmasin on Sunday.

Nevertheless, efforts are still being made to recognise the victims’ identities through medical characteristics or personal property.

Sumy explained that a body is identified if there is at least one matching primary method, such as fingerprints, DNA, or dental records. Meanwhile, secondary methods, such as medical features and personal property, must match at least two pieces of comparative data.

“Therefore, DNA sample examination is the final effort, considering this process also requires time and must be sent to Jakarta,” Sumlay explained.

Sumy also requested that families remain patient, ensuring that the DVI team is working hard to accelerate the identification process for every victim’s body received at the Bhayangkara Banjarmasin Hospital.

To date, the DVI team has successfully identified 63 out of the 80 bodies received at the Bhayangkara Banjarmasin Hospital. The remaining 17 bodies are still in the identification process, which includes sending DNA samples to Jakarta.