Singapore legislation
Section 381
Section 381
Provisions supplementary to section 378 or 380
(1)
Where in any criminal proceedings a statement contained in a document is admissible in evidence by virtue of section 378 or 380, it may be proved by the production of that document or (whether or not that document is still in existence) by the production of a copy of that document, or of the material part thereof, authenticated in such manner as the court may approve.
(2)
For the purpose of deciding whether or not a statement is admissible in evidence by virtue of section 378 or 380, the court may draw any reasonable inference from the circumstances in which the statement was made or otherwise came into being or from any other circumstances, including, in the case of a statement contained in a document, the form and contents of that document.
(3)
In estimating the weight, if any, to be attached to a statement admissible in evidence by virtue of section 378 or 380, regard shall be had to all the circumstances from which any inference can reasonably be drawn as to the accuracy or otherwise of the statement and, in particular —
in the case of a statement falling within section 378 (1), to the question whether or not the statement was made contemporaneously with the occurrence or existence of the facts stated, and to the question whether or not the maker of the statement had any incentive to conceal or misrepresent the facts; and
in the case of a statement falling within section 380, to the question whether or not the person who originally supplied the information from which the record containing the statement was compiled did so contemporaneously with the occurrence or existence of the facts dealt with in that information, and to the question whether or not that person, or any person concerned with compiling or keeping the record containing the statement, had any incentive to conceal or misrepresent the facts.
(4)
For the purpose of any rule of law or practice requiring evidence to be corroborated or regulating the manner in which uncorroborated evidence is to be treated —
a statement which is admissible in evidence by virtue of section 378 shall not be capable of corroborating evidence given by the maker of the statement; and
a statement which is admissible in evidence by virtue of section 380 shall not be capable of corroborating evidence given by the person who originally supplied the information from which the record containing the statement was compiled.[380