Singapore legislation
Section 68
Section 68
Evidence
(1)
Subject to subsection (3) —
a document or certificate purporting to be a report under the hand of the Director‑General or an authorised officer upon any matter or thing in connection with the administration or enforcement of this Act or with any investigation carried out under this Act is admissible as evidence in any proceedings under this Act and is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein; and
a certificate of an authorised examiner stating that he or she has examined any animal or bird or any other matter and stating the result of his or her examination is admissible as evidence in any proceedings for an offence under this Act and is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein and of the correctness of the result of the examination.
(2)
For the purposes of this section, a document purporting to be a certificate mentioned in subsection (1) on its production by the prosecution is, unless the contrary is proved, presumed to be such a certificate.
(3)
A certificate mentioned in subsection (1) is not to be received in evidence pursuant to that subsection unless the person charged has been given —
a copy of the certificate; and
notice of the intention of the prosecution to produce the certificate as evidence in the proceedings,at least 10 clear days before the date of commencement of the proceedings.
(4)
Where a certificate of the Director‑General, an authorised officer or an authorised examiner is admitted in evidence under subsection (1), the person charged may require the Director‑General, authorised officer or authorised examiner to be called as a witness for the prosecution and be cross‑examined as if he or she had given evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.