1MDB trial: Forensic expert couldn't verify authenticity of Najib's signatures on photocopies
By Rahmat Khairulrijal
PUTRAJAYA: A forensic document examiner was unable to conclusively verify the authenticity of signatures on several 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) documents that allegedly bear former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's signature, the High Court heard.
Tay Eue Kam said this was because she only received photocopies of the documents, including the minutes of a meeting between Najib and former 1MDB chief executive Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.
Tay, who holds a master's in forensic science from Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the quality of the photocopied documents prevented her from conducting a thorough analysis using a microscope or other advanced forensic tools.
"In forensic document examination, inconsistencies in pagination, layout and font settings are significant indicators of possible document manipulation or multi-session preparation.
"It is concluded that there is a probability that the writer of the specimen signatures did not write the signature item.
"Examination of original materials would allow a more accurate assessment of handwriting characteristics, ink properties and other forensic indicators that may not be apparent from reproduced or low-quality images," she said in her forensic document examination report tendered in court today.
The witness agreed with Najib's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, that there was a possibility the signatures could have been lifted from another document and pasted onto the copies.
"Several similarities and dissimilarities were identified.
"It was rather impossible to examine whether the signatures were copied and pasted with this quality of photocopies," she said.
Najib faces four charges of abusing his position to obtain RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds, as well as 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.
Source : 1mdb-trial-forensic-expert-couldnt-verify-authenticity-najibs
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