Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash: Najib says some victims identified, results in two weeks

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor (second, right) lay flowers at the Korporaal van Oudheusdenkazerne in Hilversum, the Netherlands, on July 31, 2014, where the identification process will take place of the victims of the
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor (second, right) lay flowers at the Korporaal van Oudheusdenkazerne in Hilversum, the Netherlands, on July 31, 2014, where the identification process will take place of the victims of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash. -- PHOTO: AFP

AMSTERDAM (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A number of Malaysian victims of the MH17 disaster have been identified, Prime minister Najib Razak said on Friday.

Disaster victim identification (DVI) experts in Hilversum have examined the remains in 126 coffins since the first batch arrived from Ukraine, he told reporters in Amsterdam.

However, he stressed, that the investigation team first needed to complete the examination of all 226 coffins over the coming weeks.

"The last thing we want to do is return the wrong body parts. It will be a very traumatic process for the families," he told reporters before leaving the Netherlands.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to arrive at a "conclusion beyond doubt" about the victims' identities via the DVI process before information could be released.

Mr Najib said he expected the DVI examination to yield more conclusive results in around two weeks.

"We might then be able to decide when we can bring home the victims," he said.

Experts conducting DVI tests compare the ante-mortem (before death) data of the victims including fingerprints and dental charts with the post-mortem data gathered.

Their DNA samples are also compared with that of their closest relatives.

"Besides victim identification, the experts are also collecting any evidence from the victims' remains that can be linked to the crime committed," Mr Najib said, adding that these two simultaneous processes would require a longer time.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.