Lab technician doing forensic analysis. (Photo: Courtesy).

A Senior Legal Counsel in Central Equatoria State says the lack of forensic laboratory in the country has obstructed the judicial system’s work on several occasions.

Sabri Wani Lado, the Head of Legal Administration and Public Prosecution Attorney in the state said the absence of a forensic laboratory damages crime evidence.

Wani said the situation has forced the government to conduct forensic examination outside the country – a process that he says, negatively affects the course of investigation.

“We noticed several obstacles, including the judicial system in the country, and the biggest obstacle is the lack of a criminal examination lab as well as experts trained to analyze and deal with the belongings of crime by linking the victim, offender, and crime scene,” said Wani.

Often referred to as a crime lab, a forensic laboratory examines evidence such as DNA evidence, fingerprints, used shell casings, or even tire tracks are analyzed in forensic laboratories to determine if a crime has occurred and who the perpetrator is.

While speaking to Eye Radio in a workshop for police investigators in Juba, the Prosecutor called on the government and partners to join efforts and establish the country’s first forensic laboratory.

“Most of the drug cases and DNA tests were examined outside the country due to the absence of the lab, which caused delays in procedures and unjustified expenses,” he said while speaking on workshop organized by the Women Equity organization on Saturday.

“I hope that the government will adopt the idea of establishing a forensic examination laboratory to examine the belongings of crimes such as saliva and semen, and to investigate the traces and fingerprints.”