Questioned Documents Flashcards
QDED Mission
To provide scientific support in form of documentary and testimonial evidences and conduct lectures
BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
1. Document examination shall be based on written ____ from any investigating agency of the government, court order and or private requesting party, provided that the letter has been approved by t he director, PNPCL.
- Document previously examined by any competent agencies of the government shall not be reexamined except when there is a ____
- If the case is under going trial in court, disputed document shall be examined only upon order of the court having jurisdiction on the case.
REQUEST
court order.
– is any material that contains marks, symbols, or signs either visible, partially visible, or invisible that may ultimately convey a meaning or message to someone. Pencil or ink writing, typewriting, or printing on paper are the more usual or forms of documents.
document
– Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is under scrutiny.
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
– A term suggesting that there is an argument or controversy over the document and strictly speaking this is true meaning. However, disputed document and questioned document are employed interchangeably to signify a document that is under special scrutiny.
DISPUTED DOCUMENT
– These are other less violent, more sub tile –tools and products of crime. They do not bruise, batter cut or shed blood , but they are used to steal your money, threaten your security , more than guns, knives, and pry bars.
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
Applies the principles of science and logic to all questioned document problems in order to determine the origin, authenticity and genuineness.
FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
One who studies scientifically the details and elements of documents in order to identify their source or to discover other facts concerning them.
DOCUMENT EXAMINER –
Document examiners are often referred as to a “ ________, but today the work has out grown this latter title involves other problems than merely the examination of handwriting.
handwriting identification experts
SCOPE OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
HANDWRITING EXAMINATION ALTERATION / UNFAIR TRADE COMPETITION COUNTERFEITING IMPRINT EXAMINATION MISCELLANEOUS EXAMINATION
– It includes signature, initials, hand lettering, and other extended writing such as anonymous letter, suicide notes, extortion letter and last will testament.
HANDWRITING EXAMINATION
- It includes all kinds of erasure, addition, insertion, interlineation and decipherment of secret writings, sequence of strokes .
ALTERATION / UNFAIR TRADE COMPETITION
– It includes fake bills like peso and other foreign currency .
COUNTERFEITING
– It includes manual, mechanical and other electronic printing devices, ex. Rubber stamps, typewriter and computer printer.
IMPRINT EXAMINATION
– It includes the following examination; pre-ter natural paper characteristics Dating examination envelop tampering re-prographic examination writing media examination – instruments, inks and papers.
MISCELLANEOUS EXAMINATION
KINDS OF DOCUMENTS
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
PRIVATE DOCUMENTS
COMMERCIAL DOCUMENTS
– Instruments notarized by a notary public or competent officials with solemnities required by law.
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
Any instruments issued by the government or its agents or its officers having the authority to do so, and the offices, which in accordance with their creation, they are authorized to issue and be issued in the performance of their duties.
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
- Every deed or instruments executed by a private persons, without the intervention of a notary public or any person legally authorized by which documents, disposition or agreement is provided evidence or set worth.
PRIVATE DOCUMENTS
- Any instruments executed in accordance with the Code of Commerce.
COMMERCIAL DOCUMENTS
a. Original documents
b. Contemporaneous date of five (5) years before and after the execution of the questioned document.
c. At least eight (8) standard signatures
d. Similar writing style conventional, highly individualize to highly individualize.
SPECIMEN TO BE SUBMITTED
1. SIGNATURE
a. Original documents
b. Contemporaneous date of the standard documents, maximum of five(5) years before and after the execution of the questioned document.
c. At least five (5) pages of standard handwritings.
d. Similar writing style cursive to cursive, script to script and printed to printed.
e. Similar language dialect.
f. Similar writing instrument used if possible.
SPECIMEN TO BE SUBMITTED
- HANDWRITING
a. Original Document
b. At least four (4) pages standard documents typewritten (verbatim).
- TYPEWRITING
a. Original of the questioned documents
b. At least one standard in case of unfair trade competition
- COUNTERFEITING/ IMITATION
a. Original of the questioned documents.
- ALTERATION
SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF EXAMINATION IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
ANALYSIS
COMPARISON
EVALUATION
VERIFICATION
Properties or characteristics are observed or measured.
ANALYSIS
Properties or characteristics of the unknown determined through analysis are now compared with the familiar or recorded properties of known items.
COMPARISON
– Similarities or dissimilarities in properties or characteristics will each have a certain value for identification , determined by its likelihood of occurrence. The weight or significance of each must therefore be considered. The principle of identification requires that when two items contain a combination of corresponding or similar and specifically oriented characteristics of such number and significance as to preclude the possibility of their occurrence by mere coincidence and there are no unaccounted for difference . It maybe concluded that they are the same in their characteristics attributed to the same cause.
EVALUATION
Review or re do by the senior or other document examiners.
VERIFICATION
- is the result of very complicated series of acts, being as whole combination of certain series of visible mental and muscular habits acquired by a long continued painstaking effort.
HANDWRITING
Name of a person written by himself on a document as a sign of acknowledgement.
SIGNATURE
KINDS OF SIGNATURES
CONVENTIONAL SIGNATURE
HIGHLY INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURE
signatures which are readable or legible.
CONVENTIONAL SIGNATURE
Series of intertwining strokes, flourishes and ornamentations.
HIGHLY INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURE
CLASSES OF SIGNATURES
- FORMAL SIGNATURE
- INFORMAL SIGNATURE
- CARELESS SCRIBBLE
complete correct signature for an important document such as WILL.
FORMAL SIGNATURE
Signature for routine documents and personal correspondence.
INFORMAL SIGNATURE
For the mail carrier, delivery boy or the autograph collector.
CARELESS SCRIBBLE
CLASSES OF QUESTIONED SIGNATURES
________which the writers doubted or honestly not accepted as genuine.
Genuine signatures deliberately written in an unusual manner or disguised for personal convenience.
Genuine signatures taken by trickery or written unknowingly.
__________ without any attempt to copy a genuine model.
Forged signatures of non-existing of fictitious persons.
Forged signatures with close resemblance to a genuine one, which have been produced by tracing process.
Forged signatures resembling a genuine one written with freehand and otherwise known as ______
Genuine signatures
Forged signatures
simulated forgery.
Any property or mark in which distinguishes and in document examination commonly refers to identifying details.
CHARACTERISTICS
TWO GROUPS OF CHARACTERISTICS (HANDWRITING)
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Individual or Personal Characteristics
– Not all characteristics encountered in document examination are peculiar to a single person or thing, and that is common to a group.
- CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
EXAMPLES OF COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OR QUALITIES
- Ordinary Copybook Form
- Usual Systematic Slant
- Ordinary Scale of Proportion
- Conventional Spacing
Are those introduced into the handwriting, consciously or unconsciously by the writer. They are highly personal or peculiar and are unlikely to occur in other instances. This class of characteristics are acquires either by:
a. outgrowth of definite teaching
b. result of imitation
c. accidental condition or circumstances
d. expression of certain mental and physical traits of the writer as affected by education, environment and by occupation.
- Individual or Personal Characteristics
EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Hook to the Right and Hook to the Left
- Shape, Position, Size, and Angle of “i” Dots and “t” Crossing
- Idiosyncrasies
- Bulbs and Distinctive Initial and Final Pen Pressure
- Embellishment, Added Strokes and Free Movement
- Abbreviation of Letters
- Simple, Compound Curves and Graceful Endings
- Labored Movement producing Ragged Lines
- Terminal Shadings and Forceful Endings
- Presence of Influence of Foreign Handwriting, i.e. the introduction of Greek “e”
CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUINE SIGNATURES;
- DEGREE OF SKILL
- FIRMNESS OF STROKES
- HABITUAL SPEED OF WRITING
- FUNDAMENTAL MUSCULAR MOVEMENT
- PATTERN OF SHADING AND PEN EMPHASIS
- PRESENCE OF NATURAL VARIATION
- COORDINATION , CONTINUITY AND RHYTHM
- CARELESSNESS
In genuine signature even if showing tremors, it will show some free connecting and terminal stroke.
DEGREE OF SKILL
Relative degrees of ability or skill, and a specimen of handwriting usually contains evidence of the writers proficiency.
SKILL
In genuine signature even hesitation and pen stops are on natural places.
FIRMNESS OF STROKES
Even in slow and unskillful signatures, there is consistency of speed.
HABITUAL SPEED OF WRITING
In genuine signature the upward stroke show more smoothness and freedom than the downward strokes.
FUNDAMENTAL MUSCULAR MOVEMENT –
A widening of the ink stroke due to added pressure on a flexible pen point or the use of a stub pen.
SHADING –
The act of intermittently forcing the pen against the paper surface with increased pressure.
PEN EMPHASIS
As no two signatures of an individual are exactly alike.
PRESENCE OF NATURAL VARIATION
That element of the writing movement marked by regular or periodic recurrences. It maybe classed as smooth, intermittent or jerky in its quality.
RHYTHM
INDICATIONS OF FORGERY
- Hesitation and pen lifts at unusual places.
- Abrupt changes of directions of lines or strokes showing uncertainty of movement.
- Concealed joining.
- Blunt initial and terminal stroke.
- Misplaced shadings
- Lack of variation in pen pressure.
It is the irregular thickening of the ink line when the writing slowdown or stop while the writer takes stock of the position.
HESITATION
An interruption in a stroke caused by removing the writing instrument from the surface.
•PEN LIFTS
The average force with which the pen contacts the paper, as estimated from an examination of the writing.
PEN PRESSURE
Retouching or going back over a defective portion of a writing stroke.
PATCHING
A writing weakness portrayed by irregular, shaky strokes.
Unnatural tremors
Any arcade form in the body of the letter.
ARC or ARCH
A rudimentary curved initial strokes usually in capital letters.
BEARD
BLUNT ENDING/BEGINNING
Blunt ending and initial strokes are result of the drawing process in ____.
forgery
The horizontal and looped strokes that are often used to complete such letter.
BUCKLE KNOT
The part of a letter ordinarily formed by a small circle that usually lies on the line of writing.
CENTRAL PART or BODY
The small loop formed by the strokes that extend in divergent directions.
EYE LOOP or EYELET
The lower portion of any down strokes that terminates on the baseline.
FOOT OF THE LETTER or OVAL
An element added to complete certain letters.
DIACRITIC
The introductory backward stroke added to the beginning or ending of many capital letters or small letters.
HITCH
The bend, crook, or curve on the inner side of the bottom loop or curve of a small letter. A minute and involuntary talon – like formation often found at the commencement of an initial stroke, upstroke, or at the end of the terminal.
HOOK or THROUGH
The rounded outside top of the bend, crook, or curve in small letters
HUMP
Short horizontal beginning stroke.
SPUR
Rounded appearance of the beginning or ending stroke.
KNOB
Downward strokes of any letter.
MAIN STROKE or SHANK STEM
The upward stroke usually on letters that have long loops.
WHIRL
An upward horizontal or downward final stroke usually seen in small letters.
SPACE FILLER or TERMINAL SPUR
CLASSES OF HANDWRITING STANDARDS
- COLLECTED EXEMPLAR –
- REQUESTED EXEMPLAR –
- POST LITEM MOTAM EXEMPLAR –
Handwritings of a person written in the course of his daily life business, social or personal affairs.
- COLLECTED EXEMPLAR –
Signatures or other writings written by an individual upon the request of the investigation for purposes of comparison with other handwritings, hand printing and signatures.
- REQUESTED EXEMPLAR –
Writings produced by the subject after evidential writings have come into dispute and solely for the purpose of establishing his contentions.
- POST LITEM MOTAM EXEMPLAR –
SUGGESTED STEPS IN EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURES:
•1. Placed the questioned documents and the standard documents in a juxta – position ( side by side ) for simultaneous viewing of the various elements and characteristics.
•2. First element to be considered is the movement employed ( manner of execution ).
•3. Second element to examine is line quality or presence of line, presence of tremors, smooth, fluent or hesitant. Defect in line quality is only appreciated when simultaneous viewing system is made.
•4. Examine and observe the slant , and the degree of slant.
•5. Check the ALIGNMENT
6. Examine the proportion and size of the letter.
7. Design and stroke structures . Examine the beginning and the ending strokes of the letter.
SUGGESTED STEPS IN EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURES:
The character of writing movement is a primary determinant of writing speed. It is important element of handwriting characteristics. It embraced all the factors related to the motion of writing instrument such as skill, speed, freedom, hesitation, rhythm, pen pressure, tremors and others
MOVEMENT –
The overall character of the ink line from the beginning to the ending stroke.
LINE QUALITY -
Refers to the angle of inclination of writing on of a letter of writing from the baseline.
•SLANT –
This is simply the relationship of the questioned writing to a baseline.
ALIGNMENT –
- Ascending
- Descending
- On the line
- Above the line
- Below the line
kinds of alignment
Refers to the symmetry of an individual letter and the relative height of one letter to another.
PROPORTION –
series of line and curves of the individual letters of alphabet.
•STROKE STRUCTURE –
KINDS OF STROKE STRUCTURE
- a. beginning stroke
- b. connecting stroke ( circular, angular, elliptical)
- c. terminal stroke
- Are the change in the writing made by the party thereto, or by some person entitled there under after the instrument has been executed.
- Such changes is made without the consent of other party interested and give the instrument a different effect from that where it originally possessed.
Alteration
Kinds of Alteration
- Erasure
- Addition
- Subtraction/Cancellation
- Interlineation or insertion
Removal of writing, typewriting or printing from a document.
Erasure
The writing is effaced by rubbing with a rubber erasure or scratching out with a knife or other sharp instrument.
• - Is usually made w/ a knife, rubber erasure or fine memory paper that will injure the paper. When the paper surface is damaged the paper become porous and the ink will penetrate the fiber
Mechanical or Abrasive Erasure
The writing is effaced by the use of liquid ink eradicator.
Chemical erasure
are made in solution which bleach the color out of ink, making the writing appear invisible.
Frequently the eradicator can be detected by the peculiar odor removing in the paper or with litmus paper which reveal evidence of tampering.
Chemical eradicator
may sometimes be detected by the appearance of a pale yellow stains or a slight discoloration around the suspected alteration/changes
A chemical alteration
- Any matter made a part of the document after its original preparation. When there is sufficient space between the word or at the end of a sentence to permit the insertion or addition of a single letter or word or a punctuation mark, such alteration may change the impart of the entire document of its monetary value
Addition
Any matter out, strike out or scratched out after out its original preparation.
-An alteration by cancellation is occasionally found in a document of importance such as will, deed or contract where the writer intends to eliminate a word, name or sentence without the necessity of rewriting the entire matter. The writer draws lines vertical or horizontal lines through the writing having the effect of cancellation.
Subtraction/cancellation
include the addition of writing and other material between lines or paging or the addition of whole pages to a document.
• - The writing between the lines of an instrument for the purpose of adding apart to it or correcting what has been written
The term “insertion” and “interlineations”
Interlineations or insertion
______The process of making out what is illegible or what has been effaced.
_____ refers to the process of reading or making out the material, which is illegible without actually developing or restoring the original writing on the document itself
DECIPHERMENT
consist of chemical solutions, which are capable of erasing ink.
Ink eradicator
A material used for writing which is not visible until treated by some developing process or substance.
Secret ink
DOCUMENT ALTERATION TOOLS
•1. BALL POINT PEN
- BLEEDER PEN
- GEL PEN
uses an ink cartridge that contains colored, solid particles suspended in a semi-liquid solution and this type of pen ink does not “bleed” on the paper.
-A writing instruments which has its marking tips as a small freely rotating ball bearing which roll the ink in the paper.
A ballpoint pen
uses an ink cartridge that also contains minute, colored, solid particles , but these are suspended in a watery solution and this type of pen ink does not “bleed” on the paper.
BLEEDER PEN
- A “bleeder” pen
uses an ink cartridge that contains minute, colored , solid particles’ suspended in a gelatinous , liquid solution and this type of pen in not only “Bleeds” it also smear on the paper.
GEL PEN
- A gel pen
Section 2. Any person or entity, public or private , who receives or takes hold of a note or coin which is counterfeit or whose genuineness is questionable whether Philippine or foreign currency shall issue a temporary receipt to its owner/holder and must indicate therein his name, address, and community tax certificate number or the Passport number, in case of foreigner, the date of receipt, the denomination , serial number of the note or the coin series as the case may be. The owner/ holder shall be required to countersigned the receipt and in case of refusal, the reason shall be stated in the receipt.
Section 3. Any person or entity , public or private, who receives, takes hold or has in his possession a note or a coin which is counterfeit or whose genuineness is questionable, whether Philippine or foreign currency, shall forward the same within (5) working days from date of receipt/possession thereof, together with a Copy of the temporary receipt required under Section 2 hereof, for example :
THE CASH DEPARTMENT
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Security Plant Complex
East Avenue, Diliman , Quezon City
In case of personal delivery to the Cash Departmnet (CD), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) , is not feasible, delivery of the aforestated notes or coins may be made through any of the following agencies:
•The Bangko Sentral ng Pilip[inas, Regional Offices/Branches or ;
(b) Any banking institution under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral.
BSP CIRCULAR 61 SERIES OF 1995 . CONSOLIDATED RULES AND REGULATIONS ON CURRENCY NOTES AND COINS.
CHAPTER 1 – TREATMENT AND DISPOSITION OF COUNTERFEIT PHILIPPINE AND FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES AND COINS.
Section 8. No person or entity, public or private, shall design, engrave, print, make or execute in any other manner, or utter, issue, distribute, circulate or use any handbill, advertisement, placard, circular, card or any other object whatsoever bearing the facsimile, or likeness or similitude of any legal tender Philippine Currency note, or any part thereof, whether in black or white or any color or combination of colors without prior authority therefor having been secured from the Governor, BSP or his duly authorized representative.
Section 9. The reproduction and/or use of facsimiles or any illustration bearing the likeness or similitude of legal tender Philippine currency notes referred to in the foregoing section may be authorized by the Governor, BSP or his duly authorized representative, for printed illustrations, in articles, books, journals, newspapers or other similar materials and strictly for numismatic, educational, historical, newsworthy or other purposes which will maintain, promote or enhance the integrity and dignity of the said note, provided however, that any such facsimile or illustration shall be of a size less than three-fifths (3/5) or more than one and one half (1.5) times in size of the currency note being illustrated and that there will be no deviation from the purpose for which the notes will be used.
CHAPTER II – REPRODUCTION AND/OR USE OF FACSIMILES OF LEGAL TENDER PHILIPPINE CURRENCY NOTES
CHAPTER III – REPRODUCTION AND/OR USE OF FACSIMILES OF LEGAL TENDER PHILIPPINE CURRENCY COINS
Section 10. No person or entity, public or private, shall design , engrave, make or execute in any manner, or use, issue , or distribute any object whatsoever bearing the likeness or similitude as to design, color or the inscription thereon of any legal tender Philippine currency coin or any part thereof, in metal form, irrespective of size and metallic composition, without prior authority from the Governor, BSP or his duly authorized representative Section II . The reproduction and /or use of facsimiles or of any object bearing the likeness or similitude of legal tender Philippine currency coins referred to in the foregoing section may be authorized by the Governor, BSP or his duly authorized representative, strictly for numismatic, educational, historical and other purposes which will maintain, promote or enhance the integrity and dignity of said coins.
CHAPTER III – REPRODUCTION AND/OR USE OF FACSIMILES OF LEGAL TENDER PHILIPPINE CURRENCY COINS
Section 25 . Any violation of the provisions of Section 8 and 9, Chapter II, and Sections 10, and 11, Chapter III, of this Circular, shall subject the offender to imprisonment of not less than five ( 5) years, but not more than ( 10 ) years. In case the Revised Penal Code provides for a greater penalty, then that penalty shall be imposed.
CHAPTER VII – PENALTIES
Illegal possession and use of false treasury or banknotes and other instruments of credit.
ARTICLE I68, REVISED PENAL CODE
Prohibits and penalizes defacement, mutilation, tearing, burning or destruction of Central Bank notes and coins.
That any person who shall violate this decree shall , upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty thousand pesos and/or by imprisonment of not more than 5 years.
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 247
“ The Bangko Sentral shall withdraw from circulation and shall demonitize all notes and coins which for any reason whatsoever are unfit for circulation and shall replace them by adequate notes and coins. Provided, however, that the Bangko Sentral shall not replace notes and coins the identification of which is impossible, coins which show signs of filing, clipping
clipping or perforation, and notes which have lost more than two – fifths (2 /5) of their surface or all of the signatures inscribed thereon, Notes and coins in such mutilated condition shall be withdrawn from circulation and demonetized without compensation to the bearer
REPLACEMENT AND REDEMPTION OF LEGAL TENDER PHILIPPINE CURRENCY NOTES AND COINS CONSIDERED MUTILIATED OR UNFIT FOR CIRCULATION
Section 56 of R. A. NO. 7653 provides that:
- More realistic portraits of former Philippine presidents and heroes
- Tourist destinations and notable animals found in the country on the reverse
- New BSP logo and Republic of the Philippines Seal
- New euro-like design with large numbers for easy identification
- Security features are spruced most noticeably the serial numbers which some might find weird and the security thread which is ____. A foil-like optically variable device is found in the new ______peso bill.
- The paper used is “hygienically treated” or has anti-bacterial properties.
banknotes
wider
500 and 1,000
What’s the same?
*banknote
- Color schemes were maintained except for the 20 peso bill which I think has a different tone of orange.
- The size of all banknotes appear to have been maintained.
BANKNOTE
* The same paper made of ______. The BSP considered plastic/polymer before but they might have foreseen some problems especially with the way Filipinos crumples, fold, crease, and roll the money.
abaca-cotton
A stitch like metallic thread running vertically across the note changes color from red to green. The front of the thread bears the alphanumeric “BSP100” and “BSP200” in cleartext while the back is in printed with BSP both in repeated series.
Security thread
- OPTICALLY VARIABLE DEVICE
A reflective foil that bears the image of the Blue- naped Parrot and a small BSP Logo. The color of the parrot changes from red to green when the note is rotated at 90°
500 pesos
8.OPTICALLY VARIABLE DEVICE
A reflective foil that bears the image of the South Sea Pearl Parrot and a small BSP Logo. The color of the parrot changes from red to green when the note is rotated at 90°
1000
Embossed “1000” denominational value at the lower right corner of the face of the note changes color from green to blue when viewed at different angles.
Optically variable ink
