Section 80A
of Evidence Act
Section 80A
(1)
A print, whether enlarged or not, purporting to be made from a film of any document in the possession of the Government of Brunei
Darussalam or any public body may be produced in proof of the contents of the document or such part of the document to which the print purports to be a copy, upon proof that —
(a)
while the document was in the custody or control of the
Government of Brunei Darussalam or public body, the film was taken in order to keep a permanent record thereof; and
(b)
the document photographed —
(i)
was subsequently destroyed, whether deliberately or otherwise;
(ii)
was so damaged as to be wholly or partly indecipherable;
(iii)
was lost; or
(iv)
had passed out of the custody or control of the
Government of Brunei Darussalam or public body.
Evidence
B.L.R.O. 4/2014 67
(2)
Proof —
(a)
that a print is made from a film of a document in the possession of the Government of Brunei Darussalam or public body; and
(b)
of compliance with the conditions in subsection (1), may be given in respect of any document or groups of documents by a public officer or by an employee of the public body having custody or control of the film, orally or by a certificate purporting to be signed by such public officer or employee.
(3)
A certificate under subsection (2) shall be admissible in evidence in any proceedings before any court on its production without further proof.
(4)
On the production of a certificate under subsection (3), the court before which it is produced shall, until the contrary is proved, presume that —
(a)
the facts stated in the certificate relating to the print and the compliance with the conditions in subsection (1) are true; and
(b)
the certificate purporting to be signed by a public officer or an employee of a specified statutory body has been signed by him.
(5)
In this section, “film” includes a photographic plate, microfilm and photostatic negative.
Presumption as to Gazettes, newspapers, private Acts of Parliament and other documents.