(Zaman Al Wasl)- The only center for forensic evidence in opposition-held areas was founded a year ago by personal efforts and with limited possibilities in northern Idlib province to provide the courts and police stations with basic services in the field of detection and examination of criminal evidence and to assist investigators in their investigations of crimes and thefts.
Farouk Shoman, a forensic expert who has more than a quarter of a century experience in this field was the man who established the center in the liberated north.
The center suffers lack of material and its scarcity, such as the microscopes special to the work. Shoman depends on some of his personal tools and equipment to collect forensic evidence as he owns a small microscope and some magnifying lenses. The center has obtained the necessary material to reveal fingerprints from the Command of the Free Idlib Police.
Shoman studied at the Higher Institute of Criminal Sciences in Berlin where he graduated with a degree in forensic science in 1989. After his return to Syria in the early 1990s, he worked in Aleppo's Criminal Security Branch as an expert and as a sworn expert in the Syrian courts. He also served as the head of the Criminal Evidence Center until the date of his defection on September 25, 2011.
The Islamic courts and public institutions in Idlib province need criminal forensic expertise. The work of forensic experts is linked to the work of forensic medics in cases of murder and unidentified persons, and the two professions depend on each other, explained Shoman. He added that in recent years many modern countries, and a section of Arab states, have incorporated forensic experts and medics into the Ministry of Justice as an important part of their work.
Just two forensic experts are operating in Idlib and Aleppo who work in all the liberated areas, Shoman says.
As soon as the center was established, a fingerprinting and counterfeiting expert joined the center with the help of the police command in Idlib.
As a result of the lack of experts in this field, Shoman trained some personnel and qualified them to be experts until the Center is adopted by the donor company. He added that there is a plan to train 32 police personnel to be the free Syrian forensic expert nucleus once the center is approved by the donor company.
So far the lectures have focused on the fundamentals of criminal science as well technical practices. The lectures discuss the method for lifting fingerprints off of objects, introducing trainees to crime scenes, types of information that can be obtained from a crime scene, from bodies, from instrument of the crime, and lift all types of criminal effects. Lectures also introduced the trainees to forgery methods among other topics.
The center does not grant trainees an expert's certificate until after they have worked for two years or more to ensure that the trainee is experienced and well versed.
According to Shoman, the certificate is very important as it is a basis for legal court rulings, and to ensure people’s rights it is not possible to have forensic experts who are lenient or give false reports.
Shoman said, “The center’s mission is to give criminal expertise in any kind of murder, cases of unknown identity, and for them to document all incidents and give criminal expertise to the Shari'a courts with regards to fingerprints, forgery, counterfeiting, ballistic, and investigate in cases of thefts and lifting fingerprints.”
There is a plan in the center to establish a previous criminal record and a wanted person archive for Idlib province.
The center is making great efforts to enlighten people about forensic evidence and forensic medicine, especially that there is ignorance of and a lack of know-how about the issue.
Shoman says raising awareness about these sciences is important especially in circumstances of war.
According to Shoman, there is a large degree of acceptance of forensic medicine and investigation among the judiciary and police force and a desire to strengthen this culture since the police and courts need the Center’s expertise. “Some factions have asked started asking for forensic medicine and evidence experts before taking any action which indicates a growing awareness of this issue,” he said.
Zaman Al Wasl
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