佐賀さが県警けんけいDNA鑑定かんてい不正ふせいで本部ほんぶ長ちょうが陳謝ちんしゃ再発さいはつ防止ぼうし策さく明あきらかに

Regarding the misconduct in DNA testing by a former employee of the Saga Prefectural Police Headquarters Scientific Crime Laboratory, Hideyuki Fukuda, the head of the prefectural police, once again apologized at a press conference on the 29th, stating, This greatly undermines trust in police activities.

On top of that, the police identified issues with the checking system and announced measures to prevent recurrence, such as ensuring supervisors are present during evaluations and increasing the number of researchers.

The Saga Prefectural Police Headquarters has dismissed a former male employee in his 40s from the Scientific Criminal Investigation Laboratory this month and referred him to prosecutors on suspicion of destruction of evidence, among other charges, after confirming a total of 130 fraudulent acts, such as pretending to have conducted DNA analyses and submitting false reports over approximately seven years.

Hyeyuki Fukuda, the Chief of the Prefectural Police Headquarters, once again apologized at the regular press conference on the 29th, saying, This greatly undermines trust in police activities, and as the person responsible, I deeply apologize.

Detective Chief Katsuma Higuchi also revealed measures to prevent recurrence, stating that the reason misconduct had been overlooked for many years was due to issues with the review function of the examinations. He announced thorough measures such as having supervisors be present at each stage from the start to the completion of examinations, increasing the number of researchers, and establishing a system in which multiple people conduct checks.

Regarding this issue, the Saga Bar Association and others are requesting the establishment of a third-party committee to re-examine the matter.

On the other hand, based on their previous investigations, the prefectural police have indicated that there is no need to establish one, stating that there was no impact on the investigation or trial.