Overview
- Saga Prefectural Police said the former forensic employee still handled sample return tasks after the issue was found in October 2024.
- Remaining test materials sat on the worker’s desk in an office, and police now say improper handling was possible until all items were collected on February 7, 2025.
- Prosecutors have indicted the ex-employee on charges of forging official documents and evidence tampering tied to DNA work.
- The indictment describes nine false reports between August 2023 and July 2024, plus four acts to hide missing samples between February 2024 and February 2025, including two after discovery.
- Police previously counted about 130 flawed DNA analyses since 2017, and they plan re-exams while relying on the trial to resolve timing gaps between their account and the indictment.