Forensic work still weak

Forensic work still weak

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Security and Political
Affairs Soesilo Soedarman has expressed concern about the current
unsatisfactory state of the forensic sciences required to support
the judicial process.

In a speech at the inauguration of the Indonesian Forensic
Association over the weekend, Soesilo said that the
unsatisfactory state of affairs is due to the absence of means of
communication and exchange of information between forensic
scientists and their institutions.

The minister hailed the idea of establishing the association,
saying it bode well for enlarging the role of forensic science
experts in providing strong evidence for the courts.

Soesilo himself is the patron of the association, while
members of the advisory board include the ministers of health,
defense and security, education and culture and the state
minister for research and technology.

National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro is chairman
of the association, while head of the national police forensic
laboratory center, Brig. Gen. Untung Haryono, has been appointed
the day-to-day chairman. (bsr)