DNA Testing Identifies Body of Youth Killed Last Year by Gaddafi Militia

The body of a young Libyan killed by Gaddafi loyalists last year during the conflict that eventually ousted the former Libyan dictator that was found dumped in a remote area of the Libyan desert called Wadi Alzeid, about 40km south of Sirte city, has just been identified as being that of Ahmed Etohami Elshawesh.

The DNA Worldwide Group that identified the body said that Ahmed's body, along with those of five others, were found a few days after the Sirte liberation from Gaddafi militia. Each body had its hands and legs tied, and their eyes were covered.

They had been tortured and then killed shoot to the head from close in. Whilst some of the bodies could be identified, due to the condition and brutality of the situation the one suspected to be Ahmed could not.

It was too dangerous even to ask the militia about him, as there was an armed group designed to kill anyone suspicious of not being loyal to Gaddafi. Despite numerous attempts to locate Ahmed, his family had not made any progress.

Ahmed’s father spoke to leading doctors and pathologists in Libya to find the best way for positive identification. Each path he tried came to a dead end with lack of equipment, skilled forensic analysis or corruption putting up barriers.

Dr. Jamal El-shawish contacted DNA Worldwide Group through the Libyan Embassy Health Office in London to request DNA Testing on the body suspected of being his nephew Ahmed Etohami Elshawesh who had been arrested with two of his friends in September last year by Gaddafi militia in Sirte. They had not been heard since.

On the recommendation of a family doctor a sample of DNA was carefully collected from the body and securely taken to the UK, where Dr Jamal immediately met with the Health Staff of the Libyan Embassy Health Office to find an appropriate trusted. After careful research DNA Worldwide Group was chosen as the preferred partner for the Libyan Embassy to carry out the forensic identification process.

The Libyan embassy said that after looking for a suitable company, it felt that DNA Worldwide could offer the experience and support on such a delicate and complex case.

Mr Nicholson, managing director of DNA Worldwide Group said: “When Dr Jamal and the Health Staff of the Libyan embassy contacted us it was clear that obtaining a result as quickly as possible was of upmost priority. But more than that they wanted a company they could trust.”

Within 24 hours of instructions, samples had been received at DNA Worldwide Group and testing started. The dedicated forensic team worked diligently and a few days later the results, providing positive proof of identification where released to Ahmed's family and the Libyan embassy.

After the identification, El-shawish said: “Whilst the news is difficult for our family to face, we can now start to plan for the future. I can see many families like us needing this service”.

Mr Nicholson said that with thousands more bodies needing identification across Libya and the increase in mass disasters worldwide, his company's “unique Rapid Victim Identification Kit and Service is becoming an increasingly important solution to a growing global problem.”

With over one year since Gaddafi was killed the story that Dr Jamal shares shows the problems that thousands of families still face, but DNA Worldwide, founded in early 2000, that has a network of experienced forensic consultants, extensive experience with identifying the bodies of missing relatives from mass disasters and open graves says it is at the disposal of all those needing its help.

Monday 12 November 2012

http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=9470