Chapter 29 - Affidavits Flashcards
AFFIDAVITS
Overview
1) General principles on affidavit
2) Forms & formats of affidavit
3) Affidavit by two or more deponents
4) Affidavits by illiterate or blind person
5) Contents of affidavit
6) Issues on contents of affidavit
7) Jurats
8) Issues on jurats
9) Defective affidavit
GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON AFFIDAVITS
Overview
1) What is an affidavit
2) Contents of affidavit
3) Applicability of EA
4) Affidavit as pleadings
5) Affidavit in civil proceedings
GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON AFFIDAVITS
What is an affidavit
- A sworn & written statement under oath.
- Contains certain facts within the deponent’s knowledge.
- Can be used as evidence of the matters deposed therein.
- Statement made in an affidavit must be the truth and not fabricated.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON AFFIDAVITS
Contents of affidavit
- Intitulement;
- Statement of facts;
- Forms of jurat;
- Exhibits.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON AFFIDAVITS
Applicability of EA
S.2 EA:
- EA does not apply to affidavit.
- Any irregularities of an affidavit may not be raised based on EA.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON AFFIDAVITS
Affidavit as pleadings
O.28, r.8:
- affidavit may be ordered to stand as pleadings when O.S is converted to writ.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON AFFIDAVITS
Affidavit in civil proceedings
1) Affidavit in support:
- Legal action begun by O.S or NoA;
- Intends to be used as a mean of adducing evidence.
2) Affidavit of service:
- An affidavit supporting delivery of case-related papers to one or more parties in a legal matter;
- Certifies service of a notice, Summons, Writ or process.
Sending representative must sign, swear to the statement therein. - Act as evidence or proof that the documents have been served in the event no reply is received from the other party.
FORMS & FORMAT OF AFFIDAVIT
Overview
1) Forms of affidavit
2) Exhibits
3) Signature
FORMS & FORMAT OF AFFIDAVIT
Forms of affidavit
O.41, r.1:
- Must be sworn & affirmed.
- Averment as to the particulars of the deponent.
- Narration of facts in an affidavit must be neatly paragraphed.
FORMS & FORMAT OF AFFIDAVIT
Exhibits
O.41, r.11:
- Must be annexed at the back of the affidavit;
- Marked with certain alphabetical caption.
FORMS & FORMAT OF AFFIDAVIT
Signature
Mohd Nazir bin Badar Shair v Timbalan Dalam Negeri:
- the signature of a Commissioner of Oaths in an affidavit showing that it has been sworn before him is an official act;
- the affidavit must be presumed to have been regularly affirmed even though the jurat is on a completely new page unless the contrary is proved.
AFFIDAVIT BY TWO OR MORE DEPONENTS
The law
O.41, r.2
AFFIDAVIT BY ILLITERATE PERSON
Overview
1) The law
2) Meaning of illiterate
3) Requirement of certification
AFFIDAVIT BY ILLITERATE PERSON
The law
O.41, r.3
AFFIDAVIT BY ILLITERATE PERSON
Meaning of illiterate
Fulcrum Capital Sdn Bhd v Low Kon Yang:
- a person as disadvantaged as a (braille-untrained) blind person;
- a person who is ignorant of letters, whose ignorance is aptly described by the Malay term “buta huruf”.
AFFIDAVIT BY ILLITERATE PERSON
Requirement of certification
Ravi a/l Suppiah v Timbalan Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri & Anor:
- A person administering the oath must certify that the deponent is illiterate.
CONTENTS OF AFFIDAVIT
Overview
1) The law
2) Facts able to prove
3) Source & ground of information
4) Hearsay, whether allowed
5) Matters which are scandalous, irrelevant or oppressive
6) Exhibits or annexed