Sains Malaysiana 50(8)(2021): 2343-2354

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5008-17

Recovery of Latent Fingermarks on Metal Part of Motorcycle Submerged in Different Aquatic Environments

(Perolehan Semula Cap Jari Pendam pada Bahagian Logam Motorsikal Terendam di dalam Pelbagai Persekitaran Akuatik)

NUR FATIN NABIHAH SAID, NUR SHARIDA ABD RAHMAN, PUWIRA JAYA OTHMAN, YUSMAZURA ZAKARIA & NIK FAKHURUDDIN NIK HASSAN

Forensic Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

Received: 10 August 2020/Accepted: 9 December 2020

ABSTRACT

Motorcycle theft cases in Malaysia have increased quite significantly with more motorcycles were reported stolen every day. In many cases, criminals had removed the components they only required and disposed the remaining parts into various sources of water. Unfortunately, the evidence recovered underwater was thought not to have forensic value with regards to fingermark recovery. This study aimed to determine the survivability of the latent fingermarks submerged in various water environments. Latent fingermarks were deposited on metal parts of motorcycle and submerged into four aquatic environments; river, lake, mine, and tap water for two weeks with time intervals for collection of 1, 8, 24, 48, 96, 168, and 336 h. Upon recovery, the fingermark samples were developed using Small Particle Reagent (SPR). The developed fingermarks were assessed using Biometric Fingerprint Identification System (BIOFIS). The persistence of fingermarks immersed in tap water was found to last up to more than two weeks. Contrarily, fingermark in other water environments can only survive up to 96 h after being submerged. The fingermarks submerged in the lake appeared to be better preserved as compared to those submerged in the river and mine. The development of underwater fingermarks is still feasible, and identifiable fingermarks can still be recovered at the early submersion period.

Keywords: Aquatic environments; motorcycle; submerged fingermarks

ABSTRAK

Kes kecurian motosikal di Malaysia menunjukkan peningkatan yang sangat ketara dengan seratus kes kecurian dilaporkan setiap hari. Dalam kebanyakan kes, penjenayah akan mengeluarkan komponen motosikal yang diperlukan sahaja manakala bahagian yang tidak diperlukan akan dibuang ke dalam sungai, tasik, lombong dan juga pelbagai jenis sumber air yang lain. Malangnya, tiada percubaan untuk menimbulkan cap jari daripada bahagian motosikal yang dijumpai di dalam air kerana menyangka bahan bukti yang dijumpai di dalam air tidak mempunyai nilai forensik termasuklah dalam pencarian cap jari. Untuk menyangkal sangkaan tersebut, kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti kemandirian cap jari pendam yang terendam di dalam pelbagai jenis persekitaran air dan kesannya pada penimbulan cap jari dengan menekankan persekitaran sebenar. Cap jari pendam diletakkan di atas kepingan logam daripada bahagian motosikal dan direndam di dalam empat jenis persekitaran air yang berbeza iaitu sungai, tasik, lombong dan air paip selama dua minggu dalam selang masa 1, 8, 24, 48, 96, 168 dan 336 jam. Dalam proses pengesanan cap jari, sampel dibiarkan kering di udara dan dibangunkan menggunakan Reagen Partikel Kecil (SPR). Kualiti cap jari yang telah diproses dinilai dan dibandingkan secara visual dengan menggunakan sistem Pengecaman Cap Jari Biometrik untuk menghasilkan laporan perbandingan cap jari. Selain itu, kekekalan cap jari yang direndam di dalam air paip didapati boleh bertahan sehingga tempoh dua minggu. Berbeza dengan cap jari yang direndam dalam air pada persekitaran semula jadi yang hanya mampu kekal sehingga jangka masa 96 jam sahaja selepas direndam. Cap jari yang direndam di dalam tasik menunjukkan ketahanan yang lebih baik berbanding dengan cap jari yang direndam di dalam sungai dan lombong. Secara kesimpulan, penimbulan cap jari yang terendam di dalam air masih boleh dijalankan dan pengenalpastian cap jari masih boleh dilaksanakan di peringkat awal tempoh rendaman.

Kata kunci: Cap jari terendam; motosikal; persekitaran akuatik

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*Corresponding author; email: nikf@usm.my