Malawi plane crash evidence vanishes

Forensic samples and photographs from the June 10, 2024 plane crash that killed former vice-president Saulos Chilima and eight others have disappeared. Senior medical officer Andrew Master Mwale told the plane crash enquiry that samples he collected and stored at Sun Set Funeral Services could no longer be traced. The missing evidence raises serious questions about the investigation's transparency and completeness.

Mwale expressed surprise that materials from such a sensitive investigation could go missing without explanation. He noted that eight bodies were kept at Sun Set Funeral Services, which had reportedly inadequate security compared to Goodwill Funeral Services, where Chilima's body was held. The disappearance of photographs taken during recovery and postmortems also hinders independent specialists from reconstructing the process and verifying forensic observations.

Substantial human tissue, including muscle and backbone fragments, was recovered, but some materials, including a large tissue sample believed to belong to Abdul Lapukeni, remain unaccounted for. Questions also surround the identification of body parts attributed to Chilima, specifically an amputated leg and foot. Mwale stated that independent DNA testing, potentially in South Africa or Zambia, is increasingly important to confirm victim identities.

Why it mattersThe disappearance of evidence from the plane crash investigation hinders the accurate identification of victims and clarification of the accident's circumstances.

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