DNA technology first that led to alleged serial rapist’s arrest
Robert Wayne Kwan, 77, was arrested in February 2024 after Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) linked his DNA to three historical sexual assaults in NSW, marking the first Australian prosecution using this technology. His bail application was denied in the NSW Supreme Court due to the novel DNA evidence, though his defense argues the admissibility of the genetic linkage remains unproven.
Robert Wayne Kwan, 77, faces charges for three alleged sexual assaults spanning 1991 to 2002 after DNA technology identified him as a suspect. Police used Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG), a method that matches DNA profiles to public databases, to link Kwan to attacks in western Sydney, Wollongong, and Dubbo. His arrest in February 2024 marked the first Australian prosecution relying on FIGG, a technique previously used to solve the Golden State Killer case in the U.S. The NSW Supreme Court denied Kwan bail, citing the untested nature of the DNA evidence in Australian courts. His legal team argues the process linking his DNA to the crimes lacks transparency, with only three pages of 1,400 total evidence pages addressing the genetic findings. Kwan’s defense also claims they have not received laboratory reports detailing how his DNA was connected to the assaults. Kwan was charged with five counts of sexual intercourse without consent, two counts involving minors under 16, and two additional sexual assault charges against a child. Police allege he lured victims into his car—described as a light brown four-door vehicle—before assaulting them. His wife owns a beige Mazda sedan, though details on whether this matches witness descriptions remain unclear. The assaults occurred in March 1991 (an 11-year-old girl in Glendenning), February 1996 (a 16-year-old in Kanahooka), and December 2002 (a 26-year-old in Dubbo). Kwan denied wrongdoing during a police interview and cited health issues, including diabetes and coronary artery disease, in his bail plea. His wife’s inability to maintain their property was also cited as a factor in the denial. The NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad initiated a 2022 DNA review of historical sexual assault cases, leading to Kwan’s identification after his relative’s DNA matched the crime scene profiles. The case highlights both the potential of advanced forensic tools and the legal challenges of introducing new evidentiary standards in court.
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