KLANG: Forensics experts and technicians are furiously combing through several hundred samples of what are believed to be human remains collected from the site of the Elmina crash on Thursday.
During a press conference at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah here yesterday, Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the team from the Chemistry Department, including 30 pathologists and forensics officers, had gone through a third of the 300 samples collected for the purpose of victim identification.
“The department and the hospital will take samples that can be used for DNA testing, as there are samples that are difficult to perform tests on.
“Besides DNA testing, Bukit Aman is also using fingerprint identification,” he said.
Comm Hussein said that the process could not be rushed so that the remains could be correctly identified.
“That’s why we have set a timetable for Monday, as we are working round-the-clock.
“What we can say is that JAIS will perform mandi jenazah and prayers here, and we advise the family to accept this and proceed with the burial.
“Let the last memory of the family with the victims be the image they have of them,” he said, adding that another set of remains could be released to the next of kin today.
In a related matter, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Facebook yesterday that he had visited the family of the deceased ehailing driver, Sharipuddin Shaari, to hand over contributions.
“The victim was driving in the area when the accident occurred. A representative from Grab was also present and will assist in the insurance claim process for the victim’s family.
“The crash was tragic and heartbreaking. The government will do its best to assist the families,” he said.
On Thursday, a Beechcraft 390 aircraft operated by Jet Valet crashed in Elmina, Shah Alam.
The crash occurred at 2.50pm after the aircraft was cleared to land at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang.
It was flying from Langkawi.
It crashed into Persiaran Elmina after losing contact with the Subang control tower, killing all eight onboard along with two road users, Muhamad Hafiz and Sharipuddin.
Among the dead was a first-term Pelangai assemblyman and Pahang exco member, Datuk Seri Johari Harun.
