DNA analysis on mass grave bone samples: Ops Wawasan Khas. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saedon, Nor Aidora; Saiman, Mohd Zuwairi; Ahmad, Noraini; Hashim, Rauzah; Syed A.Rahman, Sharifah Nur Hafiza; Zainudin, Normazlina; Azah, Muhamad Sufiyan; Che Amran, Mohd Firdaus; Husni, Zulhilmi; Khairi Othman, Hartini
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 6(2017)
• Page Start: e395
• Page End: e396
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: DNA forensics -- Bone analysis -- DNA sequencing -- NGS -- MiSeq FGx™; Forensic genetics -- Periodicals; Forensic Genetics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigss.2017.09.164
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1875-1768

Abstract

Abstract: Under the codename 'Ops Wawasan Khas', the mission was to exhume the remains of victims of human trafficking syndicate(s) at Malaysia-Thailand border in Wang Kelian, Perlis, Malaysia. The operation was being handled by the Royal Malaysian Police and Malaysian Armed Force at General Operations Force Tactical Base in Ulu Kinta, Perlis, Malaysia. The police have been working with their counterparts in Thailand, Bangladesh and Myanmar since the discovery of mass grave in Songkhla, Thailand on 1 st May 2015. Malaysian police have announced the discovery of 139 graves over 28 abandoned trafficking camps, with a total of 106 skeletal bodies were exhumed out and were sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Kedah, Malaysia for autopsy. Bone samples were taken and sent to the Department of Chemistry Malaysia for DNA analysis. Analysis was carried out via DNA sequencing which focuses on 56 biogeographical ancestry SNPs loci to estimate the ancestral origin of the unknown bones. All samples were compared against 115 samples of Malaysian volunteers and 4 pure Rohingyas which serve as reference samples. It was found that the unknown bone samples were originated from the Rohingyas based on information from DNA analysis results and current crisis which occur at western state of Rakhine, Myanmar.