Challenges for the development of forensic document examinations in case of Ethiopia
Getachew Denbela
Ethiopian Federal Police Forensic Investigation Directorate, Ethiopia
: Forensic Toxicol Pharmacol 2015, 4:4
Abstract
Ethiopia is among the developing countries in east Africa which has been facing white collar crimes in deep. Even though forensic document examinations counts more than four decades, it hasn’t been developed as expected. As this work is new and beginning, literatures were collected and used to have base for development of forensic document examinations. To identify the challenges for its development, one federal and four regional document investigation laboratories were focused. Questionnaire, interview and analyzing data from real cases at hand from federal laboratory were the methods in which of information were gathered. Forensic document examiners, police investigative officers, Attorneys, Insurance and bank workers were sources of information. Analysis from the data suggested that the societies do not have awareness whether the suspected document is investigated or not, the concerned Legal Justice bodies haven’t given proper attention toward its development, lack of skilled man power located to this profession who apply all investigation procedures and operate instruments used for examinations and no opportunities to upgrade themselves as certified examiner. Examiners are not stable in laboratories due to unsatisfactory salaries paid them and taking them away for another job leaving document examination behind. Lack of qualitative and original standards brought to laboratories which highly affect examination results, which in turn questions the admissibility of the results in court.
Biography
