2nd Mass. chemist accused of evidence tampering

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

2nd Mass. chemist accused of evidence tampering
| January 20, 2013 | Updated: January 20, 2013 8:23pm

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) — Prosecutors say a chemist at another Massachusetts crime lab has been accused of tampering with drug evidence.

State Attorney General Martha Coakley said Sunday that Amherst lab worker Sonja Farak was arrested Saturday. Prosecutors say evidence suggests she stole drugs that had been tested. Officials say the Northampton resident removed a substance that tested positive for cocaine and replaced it with one that didn't.

Coakley says the lab contacted state police Friday to report an inventory discrepancy.

Last year, a chemist at a Boston lab was accused of faking test results, putting thousands of criminal cases into question.

Farak also is charged with drug possession. She doesn't have a listed phone number. It's unclear whether she has a lawyer.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/2nd-Mass-chemist-accused-of-evidence-tampering-4209271.php

[SoapBox]

1. Some what off the main topic...

but I just want to throw in here, about these labs, that are running drug tests for many companies...airlines included.

There have been so many problems in the past...specimens were mishandled, specimens were not tested in a timely manner, results were made to look worse than better...all sorts of crap. And in the end, many employees had no recourse.

There were a few high profile cases (like pilots that were subject of termination) that took powerful groups (aka ALPA) to stand up and demand retests and explanations.

...now back to the topic.

[marble falls]

2. Nope. You are right on the topic. Its been in the news here in Texas, too. Evidence has been .....

massaged for politically ambitious prosecutors to railroad defendants into jail and in at least one case to the death chamber.

[4Q2u2]

3. Justice at it's Finest

Two good examples that the Death Penalty is hard to see as Fit and Fair when the Government is Fixed or Faulty. It is already estimated that the first Chemist' actions will cost the State over 300 million to fix, now this. With a tight budget and money hard to come by, I can think of a lot better ways to spend Tax dollars than this.