UAE forensic unit tackles chlorine leak and fatal child poisoning to see justice done

Sharjah's forensic investigators were involved in more than 15,000 crimes this year

Leena Al Ghais tests samples at the Sharjah Police Forensic Laboratory. Antonie Robertson / The National

The poisoning of a child at a family home and an industrial chlorine leak that left more than 70 people hurt are among the complex cases tackled by a top forensics unit.

The Sharjah Police Forensics Laboratory was involved in 15,513 investigations in the past year, probing tragic accidents and complex crimes.

Their workload has risen every year, from 12,554 cases in 2017 to 13,054 in 2018.

The team investigated the death of Khuzaimah Khan, 10, in Al Nahda in May.

He and his twin sister Komal, who survived, were taken to hospital after industrial pesticides were used to fumigate a nearby flat. The investigation has yet to reach a conclusion.

Lab chief Brig Ahmed Al Serkal spoke of the case as he gave The National a tour of the facilities this week. He said the tragedy was one of five cases involving the use of hydrogen sulphide-based pesticides.

The unit of 46 investigators and technicians was also involved in the investigation of an industrial chlorine leak in February that killed one person and left more than 70 needing treatment.

"Our on-site management plan for a chlorine leakage that affected 73 people in Sharjah's industrial area helped contain the disaster," Brig Al Serkal said.

The department spent years adding samples of evidence from crime scenes, prisoners and suspects to its DNA database and there are now 6,412 people listed.

The investment has paid off and the lab has helped to solve crimes using 164 DNA matches.

The unit's experts find their time increasingly taken up by drug cases.

Toxicology expert Idris Mohammed said the lab's up-to-date equipment tests for traces when suspects have tried to cover up their drug use or flush it from their system.

“No one can get away with it, no matter what interfering agents they use to mask drugs in their urine or blood,” he said.

Dr Taj Abbas, a chemist, said the forensics team had come across all manner of smuggling techniques, including the smuggling of "gold in dough, inside protein powder, or [drugs] in the form of candy tin boxes, smuggling drugs inside sesame seeds".

Though gun crimes are rare in the Emirates, the unit developed a residue programme to analyse bullet fragments and the traces of gunpowder on an assailant's hands and clothing.

In a country in which cheques are still widely used, forgeries remain relatively common.

“We've solved many forgery cases, including altering passports, educational degrees, cheques, among others and I see that criminals are always one step ahead,” said anti-forgery technician Sayyed Shaaban.

The unit also provides a range of career paths to bright, young science graduates.

Noura Jaleel, who has a degree in biotechnology, is among the few Emiratis in the unit.

She called on young people with an interest in science to embrace the chance to work in a different field.

"It's not all about dead bodies," she told The National. "It's a wide and extremely interesting science offering new developments and challenges everyday."

Her colleague, Aisha Al Tunaiji, who joined five months ago, said she each day fascinates her.

“I love the work and I want to learn more. And surprisingly, I was not afraid to see and work on corpses."