On May 1, 2018, five years have passed since the death of an outstanding forensic scientist, Doctor of Law, Professor, Academician of the Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, a man who for a long time was at the head of science in Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, Mykhailo Ya. Sehai.
After graduating from high school in 1941, Mykhailo Sehai joined the Soviet Army – the Great Patriotic War began, he passed from Kyiv to Berlin and he was awarded many orders and medals as well.
After the war Mykhailo Sehai studied at the Faculty of Law of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
From 1950 to 1996 his work activity was connected with Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, first as a junior, then senior research fellow at the Forensic Research Department, who later he headed. In 1963 he was appointed to the post of deputy director for scientific work, which he held until 1983. During this period from 1979 to 1981 he served as Director of the institute.
During his time at the Institute in 1959 he defended his thesis for the degree of Candidate in Law Sciences on the subject: “Criminalistic identification and peculiarities of its application in certain types of forensic examination”. In 1970, Mikhailo Sehai published a fundamental monograph “Methodology of forensic identification”, which later became the subject of his doctoral dissertation. This work is considered a significant scientific work in the field of forensic identification.
For the development of domestic criminology, as well as a significant contribution to the theory and practice of other legal sciences, he was awarded the silver medal of Raphael Belkin “for outstanding achievements in the development of criminalistics and forensic expertise.” The prize was established by the United Nations Council of Public Awards.
He passed his experience to a talented forensic scientist to young specialists; he was the head of the preparation of dissertational works of many employees of the Institute, in particular: N.I. Klymenko, V.M. Pryshchepa, V.M. Palii and others. He was a member of the specialized Academic Councils for the Defense of Dissertations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the Higher School of Militia, now the Academy of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. For his scientific work as a leader and consultant he has prepared 2 doctors and 20 candidates of science.
M. Sehai is the author of more than 180 scientific works, including 6 monographs and 10 methodical manuals. The most famous of them are the “Methodology of Forensic Identification” (1970), “Forensic Examinations”, (1981), “Technique of tracological research of mass production products” (1983), “Modern possibilities of forensic examinations in the light of science and technology achievements” (1987), “Forensic examination of material traces-mappings (problems of methodology)” (1997), “Forensic Expertology”, a scientific and practical commentary to the Law of Ukraine “On Forensic Expertise” in the book “Expertise in Forensic Practice” (2005).
M. Sehai was one of the organizers of the publication of the republican interdepartmental scientific and methodological collection “Forensic science and forensic examination” and a member of its editorial board.
Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise is proud of its long history of existence and the experience of professionals who worked on the development of the industry that made a significant contribution to the development and development of forensic expertise.
Mykhailo Sehai was and remains an example for imitation in his professional activities and philosophical approach to life, through which he passed with dignity and humor. In the memory of his colleagues, he will remain not only a great scientist and teacher of many scientists, but also a man of extraordinary humanism, a true intellectual.
