Senator: Samples can be replicated

Israeli tests have recently shown that DNA samples can be replicated, PNM Senator Sherrie Ali said yesterday. Ali was speaking in the Senate yesterday in the debate on a revamped DNA Bill which was presented by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan. However, Ali queried the extensive number of amendments (34), saying it was better that the bill be withdrawn and an entirely new bill presented. Under the bill, the police would have power to use reasonable force, but not excessive, to take DNA samples from persons, Ramlogan said

He told reporters at the lunch break the police always have had the right to exercise reasonable force in performing their duties and the bill would continue that trend. He said if someone was asked to give a DNA sample and refused the police would have the right to use reasonable force to obtain that. Ramlogan added: “Reasonable force is not to be confused with excessive force. Excessive force remains illegal but the police are entitled to be a little rough if the circumstances demand, such as investigating a rape or murder case and the suspect refuses to give a sample.” Ramlogan, in the Senate, said the bill would allow samples to be taken from young victims of sex crimes, particularly incest, since in some cases, guardians were unwilling to give consent for that to be done. He said said the criticism “on the ground” was that the system favoured the accused.

However, Ali said, DNA samples could be replicated as recent Israeli tests have shown and reported in the New York Times and elsewhere. She said there ware no safeguards for DNA once the sample fell into the wrong hands. Ali also argued that subjecting rape and similar victims to forced DNA testing would further traumatise an already traumatised person. She also knocked clauses of the bill, giving the National Security Minister and Police Commissioner powers to  forcibly extract DNA sampling. Ali said that would be giving too much power to one person.