RECOVERY OF UNIDENTIFIED TRACE EVIDENCE FROM THE AREA OF SUOI SAP

ORIGIN AND CUSTODY OF TRACE EVIDENCE

The trace evidence that was provided, as described below, by Mr Albie Cunningham was sent to CILHI for examination. The samples were too small and worn to enable them to be identified as being of human origin and too small to enable mtDNA analysis.

Furthermore, although some samples may have been recovered from the general area of the Fisher incident, there is no demonstratable chain of custody to show that the samples sent to CILHI are the ones alleged to have been recovered from the subject area.

DATE	INCIDENT	LOCATION	REASONS	DETAIL OF PERSONS INVOLVED
Oct or Nov 1969	§ PERSON A (FARMER) FINDS A BODY. § BODY COVERED WITH MUD.	Near the junction of two creeks,in the general area of GS YS 66 95.	§ The farmer was working the land and encountered a "bad smell". (This is how it was reported by Person B to Mr Albie Cunningham of Melbourne, Australia in 1993.) § No locals had died in the vicinity in the preceeding months and they knew there had been an incident involving a soldier falling from a helicopter hence it was assumed that the remains were those of a Caucasian. § No personal effects, equipment or ID recovered.	§ Area would have been drying out in November. § Person A is now dead.
Not known.	PERSON A'S BROTHER RECOVERS REMAINS AND TAKES THEM TO HIS HOUSE FOR STORAGE.	House and farm were in the vicinity of the incident area, within a couple of hundred meters. Remains were moved to Xuyen Moc then to a small village about 5 km north of by 1993.	Normal family move.
FEB 1992	MR ALBIE CUNNINGHAM INVESTIGATED THE POSSIBILITY OF SEARCHING FOR AUST BNR, FIRSTLY FISHER. THE AREA WAS PART OF A RE-EDUCATION CAMP (NEZ) AND ACCESS DIFFICULT FOR A WESTERNER.	NEZ was on junction of creek, south bank.	§ Cunningham's motivation was patriotic intent. No body else was visiting Vietnam as frequently as he was and he had contacts in Vietnam as a result of his frequent visits. § VVAA initially supported Cunningham but "lost interest." Contributed about $2, 000 towards expenses.
AUG 1992	§ MR ALBIE CUNNINGHAM RETURNED TO VIETNAM BUT COULD NOT GET ENTRY TO THE GENERAL AREA. § ACCESS FOR "JOE" WAS ARRANGED.			Not really in touch with Joe at present (Apr 02) but trying to locate him.
AUG – SEP 1992	"JOE" VISITED THE AREA TWICE. ARRESTED ON FIRST VISIT.	Held in a small village now built about 5 km south of the location of the Fisher incident. Subsequently taken to Xuyen Moc for further interrogation.	Alleged that "Joe" was in the area of NEZ trying to make contact with prisoners.
OCT 1992	MR ALBIE CUNNINGHAM WAS ADVISED OF EXISTENCE OF REMAINS BY PHIL BY PHONE.	Not known where remains were being held at this time.	Because "Phil" knew that Cunningham was interested in the matter, "Phil" decided to pass the information on.	"Phil" is a businessman of French extraction. Mr Cunningham has an Email address for him but has not been in touch for some time.
NOV 1992	MR CUNNINGHAM VISITED VIETNAM AND A VIETNAMESE OFFICIAL TOLD CUNNINGHAM ABOUT "A FAMILY HOLDING THE REMAINS."	Remains were held in a village 5 km north of Xuyen Moc.	§ Not known why remains were held in this location. § Not known why "the official" did not take charge of them.	§ Name of the official who told Cunningham about the family holding the remains is not known. § Person B is now no longer associated with the handling of the remains.
LATE 1992, MAYBE DEC	REMAINS INSPECTED BY JOE ACCOMPANIED BY DOCTOR. DOCTOR NOT ALLOWED TO INSPECT REMAINS.	Village near by Xuyen Moc.	§ Inspection was to confirm that a set of remains existed. "Joe" observed skull and leg bones. § Not possible to confirm this was the set as found by farmer (Person A). § Panic by family prevented remains being photographed.
EARLY 1993 BEFORE 10 FEB 1993.	SAMPLES RECOVERED BY "JOE"	Recovered from "the village"	§ Samples taken for confirmation and testing. § The official and the family claimed that the set of remains held by them were the se that Person A had located.	Name of family who had custody of the remains in 1993 not known.
Apr 1993	SAMPLES BROUGHT TO AUSTRALIA		§ Cannot be established that these samples are from the remains located by Person A. § Samples brought to Aust to ascertain whether they were from Fisher or not.	Name of person importing samples not available
MAR 2002	SAMPLES PASSED TO JIM BOURKE		§ Mr Cunningham has not done anything to progress this matter over the last 10 years because nobody was interested.