Improper DNA Analyses May Have Affected Saga Police Probes in 19 Cases

Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)–Improper DNA analyses by a former employee at the police department of Saga Prefecture, southwestern Japan, may have influenced investigations in 19 cases, the National Police Agency said in a report on its special re-examination Thursday. The report said it cannot be concluded for sure that the misconduct created no obstacles in the 19 cases, noting that discrepancies between the results of the initial and special re-examinations, and testing flaws were found. According to the report, the NPA re-examined 25 cases that were still under investigation and nine cases for which the statute of limitations has expired, out of 130 cases that the Saga police had determined involved inappropriate DNA analyses. The report found that the results of DNA analyses conducted by the former employee at the prefectural police’s scientific investigation institute and those obtained through the NPA’s special probes differed in eight cases. In 14 cases, re-examination was impossible because samples had been lost or discarded. In nine cases, the former employee is suspected of not taking appropriate steps, such as neglecting to conduct tests to identify specific individuals despite human DNA having been detected and determining that no DNA has been found without performing necessary tests. The NPA concluded that “the possibility cannot be ruled out that the suspects could have been identified for 19 of the re-examined cases if appropriate investigations had been carried out at the time,” while noting the possibility that DNA profiles could not be detected in the special re-examinations by the NPA due to the deterioration of samples. The agency added that there is no change in the conclusion shown in its interim report issued last November that none of the 130 cases led to wrongful arrest or detention, or affected any trials. A total of 643 cases handled by the former employee from 2015 to 2024 are currently being investigated by the NPA. The Saga police employee was dismissed as disciplinary action. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]