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OPENING ADDRESS BY GUEST OF HONOUR, MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR WONG KAN SENG AT THE FORENSIC CONFERENCE 2004 ON 14 JULY 2004, 9.35 AM AT POLICE CANTONMENT COMPLEX AUDITORIUM

Commissioner of Police

Distinguished Speakers and Guests

Ladies & Gentlemen

Good morning

Pillars of Criminal Investigation

The three areas of forensic, interview and intelligence are pillars indispensable to effective criminal investigation. DNA matching is one of the forensic tools at the disposal of the Police. With the advancement of technology, the use of DNA has become an important tool to help solve crimes.

Introduction of DNA Database

Although the Singapore Police Force DNA Database, which is being officially launched today is relatively new, Police have in fact been using DNA forensics from as early as 1991.  Back then, DNA testing was largely confined to the direct matching of a suspect’s DNA profile with that collected at the crime scene.  This meant that suspects implicated for one offence may not be readily linked to previous offences committed by the same offender.

The new DNA database, however, comprises both offenders’ DNA profiles as well as DNA profiles recovered from crime scenes. Once a suspect’s DNA profile is uploaded, it would be compared against all existing profiles in the database. This is particularly useful in surfacing repeat offenders as it helps establish links between previous DNA profiles recovered.  This works in the same manner as the current Automated Fingerprint Identification System 2 (AFIS 2), which allows Police to screen latent prints collected from crime scenes with those stored in the Criminal Records Office’s database.

Take for example the case last year where a man robbed and molested a Japanese woman in Singapore after breaking into her apartment. Apart from the recovery of his DNA profile at the crime scene, Police had no other leads with which to establish the identity of the man.  A few months later, the Police arrested a man who broke into an apartment in another vicinity.  A check through the DNA database revealed that this person’s DNA profile matched that collected from the Japanese woman’s apartment. He subsequently admitted to the crime, as well as to a few other housebreaking cases all within the vicinity.

In another incident, the DNA profile of a recalcitrant drug addict was found to match those collected from a separate case of break-in and theft.  The forensic evidence provided by the DNA profiles proved to be integral in this investigation. Without the DNA database, these two offenders might have gone unpunished for the offences they committed.

The DNA database is also valuable in helping to rule out innocent suspects. This focuses investigative efforts, thereby saving time and resources.  More importantly, it prevents the innocent from being wrongfully charged.

Further development of DNA Database

Since its inception last year, the DNA database has now accumulated some 38,000 DNA profiles. This number is still growing. Based on empirical evidence from other countries with established DNA databases, it seems that the larger the database, the higher the chances of a crime being solved. In time, the DNA database should be more effective. In addition, since we use the same DNA comparison software as that used by the INTERPOL and law enforcement agencies in several other countries, the SPF DNA Database would contribute to the verification of DNA profiles around the world.

Forensic Conference 2004

SPF has travelled much ground in the setting up the DNA database. The experience and new technology associated with DNA forensics are shared in the exhibition today.  The setting up of the DNA Database is however not an end of SPF’s efforts.  The potential of DNA forensics is immense. There is still much for SPF to learn and explore. The Conference today is a good start.  I hope that officers present learn from the speakers the finer details of DNA forensics, as well as future challenges.  I wish you an enriching conference ahead.

Thank you.

Source: Singapore Government Press Release 14 Jul 2004