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A FORENSIC handwriting expert told the High Court today that she was unable to conclusively verify the authenticity of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s alleged signatures on several documents linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case, due to the absence of original copies.
Tay Eue Kam, a document examiner from PHA Handwriting Analysis Sdn Bhd, said there were “both similarities and dissimilarities” in Najib’s purported signatures across multiple photocopied documents she was asked to analyse.
“When dealing with reproductions, we cannot exclude the probability of signatures being copied and pasted. They need to be compared with the original copies,” she told the court during examination-in-chief by Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
“All of the documents received were reproductions,” Tay added, explaining that while high-quality photocopies can be assessed to some extent, poor-quality reproductions limit the ability to identify key handwriting features.
The 26th defence witness, Tay, 59, analysed 31 sample documents, including cheques, government memorandums and letters, in an effort to assess the authenticity of Najib’s signature and handwritten notes on seven disputed documents related to the case.
“Specific details such as connection, line quality and variations in pen pressure were not explicitly deciphered, but their structural formation, key features and orientation were examined,” she said, acknowledging the potential for reproduction documents to be fabricated.
Najib, 71, is currently standing trial on 25 charges, including four counts of abusing his position to obtain RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
On 30 October last year, Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah ordered the former prime minister to enter his defence after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case.
The trial continues tomorrow.