1 BCL MIAQE/SEPT 2010 SECTION A QUESTION 1 (a) (i) Discharge by Performance: Section 38(1), Contracts Act, 1950: Parties to a contract must either perform or offer to perform their respective promises, unless such performance has been dispensed with by any law. Performance of a contract must be exact and precise and should be in accordance with what the parties had promised. Section 42: when a promise accepts performance of the promise from a third person, he cannot afterwards enforce it against the promisor. (3 marks) (ii) A contract is terminated if the things that the parties agreed to do is impossible to perform. It can either be at the time the contract was made or when the obligation became impossible to perform after the conclusion of the contract. Section 57(1) – an agreement to do an act impossible in itself is void. Section 57(2) – a contract becomes impossible. When a contract becomes impossible to perform, it becomes automatically void. Effect of a void contract – Section 66, Contracts Act, 1950. Obligation of person who has received advantage under void agreement, or contract becomes void. (4 marks) (iii) Valid contracts of minors: The general rule is that, contracts made by minors are void. The Age of Majority Act, 1971: the age of majority in Malaysia is 18 years. Exception to this rule: - Contract for necessaries: Govt. of Malaysia v. Gurcharan Singh & Ors. - Contracts of scholarship: Contracts (Amendment) Act, 1976; - Contracts of insurance: Insurance Act, 1963: infant over the age of ten may enter into a contract of insurance and if he is below 16 years old, may require the consent of his parents or guardian. (3 marks) (b) Sales of Goods Act, 1957: The Act implies a number of stipulations in every contract for the sale of goods. These implied terms apply only when the parties have not excluded or specifically modified them. (i) Section 14 (b) of the Sale of Goods Act, 1957: in a contract of sale, unless the circumstances of the contract show a different intention, there is an CONFIDENTIAL 2 BCL MIAQE/SEPT 2010 implied warranty that the buyer shall have and enjoy quiet possession of the goods. This implied stipulation is merely a warranty and not a condition. A breach of this stipulation will not entitle the innocent party to repudiate the contract. (3 marks) (ii) Section 15, Sale of Goods Act, 1957: Where the sale is by sample as well as by description, it is not sufficient that the bulk of the goods correspond with the sample, if the goods do not also correspond with the description. Case: Lau Yaw Seng v Cooperative Ceramica D’Imola. The performance of the contract was in dispute. The quality of the goods shipped by the defendant which allegedly were inferior to those the plaintiff saw as samples of goods on display at a fair where he made the order. In such a case, it might well be a case where the plaintiff was entitled to reject the goods and refuse to pay the defendant. Sale of goods by description covers all cases where the buyer has not seen the goods but is relying on the description alone. (3 marks) (c) 2 sources of unwritten law in Malaysia: English Law: forms part of the laws of Malaysia. It can be found inter alia in the English common law and rules of equity. Section 3(1) of the Civil Law Act, 1956 (Revised 1972) provides that, in Peninsular Malaysia the courts shall apply the common law of England and the rules of equity as administered in England on the 7th day of April, 1956. In Sabah and Sarawak, the courts shall apply the common law of England and the rules of equity, together with statutes of general application, as administered or in force in England on the 1st day of December, 1951 and the 112th day of December, 1949 respectively. AND/OR Judicial Decisions: Malaysian law can also be found in the judicial decisions of the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Federal Court and the then Supreme Court, Federal Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Decisions of these courts were made and are still being made, systematically, by the use of what is called the ‘doctrine of binding judicial precedent’. Judges do not decide cases arbitrarily. They follow certain accepted principles commonly known as precedents. Precedents are basically decision made by judges previously in similar situations. AND/OR Customs: Customs of the local inhabitants in Malaysia are also a source of law. Generally customs relating to family law, i.e. marriage, divorce and inheritance, are given legal force by the courts in Malaysia. ‘Adat’ applies to Malays; prior to the enforcement of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act, 1976, Hindu and Chinese customary law applied to the Hindus and Chinese respectively. In Sabah CONFIDENTIAL 3 BCL MIAQE/SEPT 2010 and Sarawak, Native Customary Laws applies in land dealings over native customary land and family matters where natives subject themselves to native customary laws. (4 marks) (Total : 20 marks) QUESTION 2 (a) This question on company law tests the candidates’ knowledge and understanding on the principle of separate legal personality. The law treats a company as being a separate person from its members and those who manage its operation. This was affirmed in the leading case of Salomon v Salomon (1897) where the House of Lords held that, a company incorporated under the Companies Act is an independent legal entity separate and distinct from its members. In that case, despite the fact that Mr Salomon controlled the company, it was not his agent or trustee. The company was treated as operating the business in its own right, and as separate from its controller, Mr Salomon. The fact that a company is a separate entity form its controllers was emphasised in Perman Sdn Bhd & Ors v European Commodities Sdn Bhd & Anor [2005] where it was held that a company is a separate person from the shareholders. The shareholders have no interest, legal or beneficial over the property of the company. The effect of incorporation is set out in section 16(5) of the Companies Act 1965 and from the date of incorporation, the company becomes a body corporate which is capable of exercising all the functions of an incorporated company, it can sue and be sued, has perpetual succession and a common seal and has power to hold land. Liability on the part of the members may be limited. The consequences of treating the company as separate legal entity are as follows: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Liability of members to contribute in the event of winding up is limited by the Companies Act. In the case of a company limited by guarantee, the liability is limited to the amount nominated in the memorandum and article of association (see sections 18(1)(e) and 214(1)(e), Companies Act). In the case of a company limited by share, the liability is limited to the amount of any unpaid shares held by the member (sections 18(3) and 214(1)(d), Companies Act). Where a company incurs a contractual obligation or a liability in tort, that obligation or liability is the company’s and not an obligation or liability of its members or officers. Hence, the debts of a company are not the debts of its shareholders. See Fairview Schools Bhd v Indrani Rajaratnam & Ors [1998]. A company can sue and be sued in its own name. Since a company is a separate legal entity, it follows that it is liable for its own debts and may sue or be sued in its own name. See Re Application by Yee Yut Ee [1978]. A company has perpetual succession. The company is a continuing entity in law with its own identity regardless of changes in its membership. See Abdul Aziz bin Atan v Ladang Rengo Malay Estate Sdn Bhd [1985]. CONFIDENTIAL 4 BCL (v) (vi) (vii) (b) MIAQE/SEPT 2010 A company’s property is not the property of its participants. A company may own property distinct from the property of its members. See Macaura v Northern Assurance Co Ltd (1925) A company can contract with its controlling participants. Because they are separate legal entities, a company and its participants can enter into contracts with each other. See Lee v Lee’s Air Farming Ltd (1961). A company has the power to hold land. However, the right to hold land is subject to certain restrictions as stated under section 199(2) of the Companies Act. (6 marks) This question tests the candidates’ knowledge and understanding on the procedure for converting from one type of company to another as set out in section 26 of the Companies Act 1965. The procedures for a company to convert to another type are as follows: (i) The company must pass a special resolution to this effect specifying an appropriate alteration to the name to change its type and then comply with various registration requirements, including providing information to the Registrar of Companies (ROC). In the case of a private company converting to a public company, the following documents need to be lodged with the ROC (see section 52(2)(b) and section 26(2), Companies Act): I. A copy of a special resolution determining to convert and specify its change of name; II. A statement in lieu of prospectus; and III. A statutory declaration verifying compliance with section 52(2)(b) of the Companies Act. If the change of type is one permitted under the Companies Act, the ROC will then alter the details of the company’s registration to reflect the change of type. The conversion from one type to another does not affect the identity of the company or any of its rights or obligations or render defective any legal proceedings by or against the company. Any legal proceedings that could be commenced against the company prior to the conversion may still be continued notwithstanding the changes made to the company (section 26(4), Companies Act 1965). (6 marks) (c) This question on company law tests the candidates’ knowledge on the classification of companies. A private company is defined in section 4(1) of the Companies Act as follows: I. any company which immediately prior to the commencement of the Companies Act was a private company under the repealed written law; II. a company incorporated as a private company pursuant to section 15; and III. any company converted into a private company pursuant to section 26(1). CONFIDENTIAL BCL 5 MIAQE/SEPT 2010 Any company that is not incorporated as, or converted to, a private company is treated as a public company pursuant to section 4(1) of the Companies Act. Hence, if the company does not have the characteristics and restrictions set out in section 15 of the Companies Act, it must be a public company. The main differences between a private company and a public company are as follows: I. private companies must in its memorandum of association, restrict the right to transfer its shares; II. private companies are not permitted to have more than 50 shareholders (counting joint shareholders of shares as one person and excluding shareholders who are employees of its subsidiary or any person who while previously in the employment of the company or of its subsidiary was and has continued to be a member of the company; III. private companies are not allowed to undertake certain fund-raising activities that require the issue of a prospectus. This includes offering to issue shares and debentures to the public generally. IV. public companies are required to maintain a register of substantial shareholders (section 69L of the Companies Act); V. Public companies are required to lodge financial reports, regardless of the size of the company’s operations (section 169(1) of the Companies Act); and VI. Restriction on loans to directors or connected persons apply to public companies (sections 133 and 133A of the Companies Act). (4 marks) (d) This question on company law tests the candidates’ knowledge on the procedure on registration of companies. The required procedure in registering a company is set out in section 16 of the Companies Act and they are as follows: i. To lodge with Registrar of Companies (ROC) the prescribed form (Form 13A), a request for availability of name, accompanied by the prescribed fee. The person proposing to register the company will need to decide whether the company will be a private company or a public company. He/she has to decide on the name of the proposed company and the purpose for which the company is formed. ii. If the name is available for registration, the ROC will reserve for three months the name that is submitted (section 22(6), Companies Act). Within these three months, the memorandum and articles of association, and statutory declarations by the secretary and promoter of the proposed company, together with the prescribed fees must be lodged with the ROC (section 16, Companies Act). iii. The person proposing to register the company will need to: (i) Decide who will be the member or members of the company. All companies must have at least two members (section 14, Companies Act). The planners will also need to decide the number of shares to be taken up by each member, and whether those shares are to be divided into different classes. If the shares are to be divided into CONFIDENTIAL 6 BCL (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) MIAQE/SEPT 2010 different classes, the rights attaching to each class must be decided. The proposed members must consent in writing to becoming members of the company (section 65, Companies Act). Decide who will be the directors of the company. A private company must have at least two directors. Decide who will be the secretary or secretaries of the company. All companies must have at least one secretary. Choose an address to be the company’s registered office (section 120 Companies Act – this may be lodged with the ROC within one month of incorporation; and Decide whether the company will adopt the Table A articles of association or draft its own articles of association (section 30, Companies Act). If the application is complete and the fee has been paid, the ROC will register the company, allocate a company number and issue a certificate or incorporation for the company (section 16(4), Companies Act). (4 marks) (Total : 20 marks) SECTION B QUESTION 3 (a) Section 3 (1) of the Partnership Act, 1961. Partnership is the relation which subsists between persons carrying on business in common with a view of profit. (3 marks) (b) Section 12: Liability of firm for wrongs Where, by any wrongful act or omission of any partner acting in the ordinary course of the business of the firm or with the authority of his co-partners, loss or injury is caused to any person not being a partner in the firm, or any penalty is incurred, the firm is liable thereafter to the same extent as the partner so acting or omitting to act. Note: In order to make the firm liable, the tortuous act must be committed by a partner either in the ordinary course of the business of the firm or with the authority of his co-partners. (4 marks) (c) A partner is still liable, after retirement, to persons who deal with the firm after a change in its constitution unless he has given notice to such persons that he is no longer a partner: Section 38(1) Partnership Act, 1961. Case: Re Siew Inn Steamship Co. Tan Sin Moh v. Lebel Ltd Philips Singapore Pte. Ltd. v. Han Jong Kwang & Anor. (3 marks) CONFIDENTIAL 7 BCL MIAQE/SEPT 2010 (d) Section 3(1): Partnership is the relation which subsists between persons carrying on business in common with a view of profit. A partnership need not have to be created by a formal written agreement. It may be created orally or in writing. Although the word ‘partnership’ does not appear in the agreement, a partnership may still exist if the relationship between the individuals has the business character of a partnership within the scope of the Act: Ratna Ammal & Anor v. Tan Chow Soo (4 marks) (e) Section 22(1): All property and rights and interests in property originally brought into the partnership stock or acquired, whether by purchase or otherwise on account of the firm or for the purposes and in the course of the partnership business,G and must be held and applied by the partners exclusively for the purposes of the partnership and in accordance with the partnership agreement. Although cars were registered under personal names, it was the clear intention of the partners that the cars were meant for the firm’s business. Therefore, the car should rightfully be returned to the firm. In this case, Ed’s son is claiming under his estate and may rightfully claim thereof. Case: Gian Singh v. Devraj Nahar & Anor: (6 marks) (Total : 20 marks) QUESTION 4 (a) Agency by necessity – S. 142 Situations when necessity may occur: - Person claiming agent of necessity entrusted with property belonging to another; - There was an emergency situation; - Inability to communicate and obtain instructions from owner of goods; - Person claiming agent of necessity acted in good faith. Case: Great Northern Railway v Swaffield (3 marks) (b) - (c) Termination by Operation of Law may occur in the following circumstances: (i) Upon the death of the principal or the agent. Agency comes to an end upon the death of the principal or agent. An agency terminated by the death of the principal is effective only when the agent has notice of the principal’s death – Section 161, Illustration C, Contracts Act, 1950. Section 162: when the principal dies, the agent must take all reasonable steps to protect and preserve the interests entrusted to him. To pay commission or remuneration as agreed to the agent; - Not to willfully prevent or hinder the agent from earning his commission; - To indemnify the agent for acts done in the exercise of his authority. and to reimburse the agent for all money which the agent had paid on the principal’s behalf and all losses suffered by him in carrying out the directions of his principal. - Sections 175 – 178. (5 marks) CONFIDENTIAL 8 BCL MIAQE/SEPT 2010 (i) When the principal or agent becomes insane. Since an insane person is not capable to enter into a valid contract to appoint an agent or act as one, agency is terminated by such insanity. When the principal becomes insane, the agent is bound to take reasonable steps to protect and preserve his principal’s interests. (iii) When the principal or agent becomes insolvent or is made a bankrupt. Upon insolvency, a person’s rights and liabilities are vested in the Official Assignee and, therefore, the agency relationship ceases. (2 marks) (d) Cheng can sell the goods to Ali since Nana has passed away and therefore, by virtue of section 161 of the Contracts Act, 1950, the agency is terminated by the death of the principal. However, the termination of the agency is only effective when the agent, Ben, has notice of the principal’s death: i.e. a week prior to the 25th of November, 2010: Section 161, Illustration C, Contracts Act, 1950. So in this situation, Cheng is not obliged to sell to Ben, unless it is proven that Ben has no notice of Nana’s death whatsoever. The rationale of this principle is because the agency is confidential and personal, and therefore, death of either the principal, or the agent would terminate the agency. (7 marks) (e) Agency may arise in the following ways: (i) By express appointment by the principal; (ii) By implied appointment by the principal; (iii) By ratification by the principal; (ii) By necessity, i.e. by operation of law in certain circumstances; (iii) By the doctrine of estoppel or ‘holding out’. (3 marks) (Total : 20 marks) QUESTION 5 (a) This problem question on company law tests the candidates’ understanding on the transfer of shares or stock. Forged transfer of share or stock is a total nullity as no title can pass under such transfer. This is so even if the company has informed the original owner that a transfer of his shares has been lodged with the company and the owner has not responded. A case in point is Barton v London & North Western Railway (1889) where a company wrote to an executor of a deceased shareholder stating that a transfer of the testator’s stock had been lodged with it and that unless she sent a reply within a week, the stock would be transferred to the transferee. She did not reply and the company proceeded to register in the name of the transferee. Later, she brought an action to have her name restored to the register of members. The court held that she was entitled to be so restored. In Tan’s case, he can sue the stock company to restore the stoke to his name or compel it to buy equivalent stock and have it registered in his name. The company CONFIDENTIAL BCL 9 MIAQE/SEPT 2010 can in turn sue the bank for an indemnity. The bank can claim indemnity from Ariel because when a person lodges a transfer with the company, he impliedly promises that the transfer is genuine and when it is not, he has to indemnify the company for the loss that it suffers. A case in point is Sheffield Corporation v Barclay (1905) where the fact is similar as in Tan’s case. However, Storm Pet Sdn Bhd is entitled for damages. A case to illustrate this is Daily Telegraph Co v Cohen (1905) where, as a result of a forged transfer, the original owner was removed from the register of members and replaced by the first transferee, X, who was duly issued with a new share certificate by the company. X in turn transferred the shares to Y who was the registered shareholder when the forgery was discovered. The court held that the original owner was to be restored to the register of members, but Y was entitled to damages from the company as it was stopped from denying Y’s title. (10 marks) (b) This question on company law tests the candidates’ knowledge on distribution of dividends in both public and private companies: (i) The general rule is that a member of a company may not get any money from the company except in the form of dividends. Dividend may not be paid unless there are profits available for that purpose – s 365 (1). (ii) Profits need only be available at the time that the dividends are declared. There is no necessity that there are available profits when the dividend is actually paid as long as there were available profits when the dividend was declared – Marra Development Ltd v BW Rofe Pty Ltd (1977) (iii) Dividends may be paid otherwise than in cash e.g. shares. The share premium account may be used to pay up such shares – s 60(3)(6). In such a case there is no necessity that profits be available. (iv) Shareholders cannot compel a company to declare dividends – Burland v Earl (1902). Howe and when dividends are to be paid is a matter left to the articles of a company. (v) Once a dividend has been declared it is a debt owed by the company to the members. The declaration cannot be revoked or cancelled nor can the dividend be reduced – Marra Development Ltd. If the dividend is not paid when due a member may sue for it. (vi) If dividend is paid when there is no profit available every director or manager of the company who wilfully paid or permitted the payment of the dividend is guilty of an offence. If it is discovered that a dividend has been declared illegally, the board may apply to court to have the declaration set aside. (vii) A director may be made liable to replace the money paid out – Re Exchange Banking (1882). (5 marks) (c) This question on company law tests the candidates’ knowledge on permitted buybacks or purchase by a company of its own shares. At common law there was an absolute prohibition for a company to purchase its own shares. This was established in the case of Trevor v Whitworth (1887). Section 67 of the Companies Act also CONFIDENTIAL 10 BCL MIAQE/SEPT 2010 prohibited such purchases. The purpose of the rule is to ensure that a company’s capital is maintained, i.e. remains intact and does not get wasted away. However, following the economic recession in 1997, amendments were made to the Companies Act allowing for companies to purchase their own shares subject to certain conditions. According to section 67(A) a company may purchase its own shares subject to the following conditions: (i) It must be a public company with a share capital (ii) The article of association of the company must permit such a purchase (iii) The company must be solvent at the date of the purchase and must not become insolvent as a result of the purchase. (iv) The purchase must be made through the stock exchange on which the shares are quoted and must be in accordance with the relevant rules of the stock exchange. (v) The purchase must be made in good faith and in the interest of the company. Hence, in the case of Spectrum Sdn Bhd, if the purchase of its own shares that is to prevent potential take-over of the company is in the interest of the company then according to s 67(A), it is allowed to do so. (5 marks) (Total : 20 marks) QUESTION 6 (a) This question on company law tests the candidates’ knowledge and understanding on the appointment and removal of auditors. When a company is formed, its directors may appoint an individual or firm as its auditor. If an individual is appointed, he must be an approved company auditor (section 9, Companies Act). An auditor must be appointed any time before the first annual general meeting of the company (section 172(1), Companies Act) and then at each annual general meeting to hold office until the conclusion of the next (section 172(2), Companies Act). If the directors so not appoint the auditor or auditors, the company in general meeting may do so. The procedures for appointing and removing auditors under the Companies Act 1965 are as follows: i. In practice, the directors of a public company choose the auditor, whose appointment is then approved (or rejected) by members at the next annual general meeting after the appointment. When a public company is formed, its directors appoint an auditor who holds office until the conclusion of the first general meeting (section 172, Companies Act). Subsequent appointment of an auditor or auditors is made by each annual general meeting of the company. The auditor or auditors so appointed will hold office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting (section 172(2), Companies Act). ii. The auditor holds office until they retire or cease to hold office in accordance with the Companies Act. If a vacancy occurs, the directors appoint a CONFIDENTIAL 11 BCL iii. iv. (b) MIAQE/SEPT 2010 replacement who holds office until the next annual general meeting, when the appointment is put to shareholders. If the company has failed to appoint an auditor or auditors, it appears that the Registrar may, on the application in writing of any member of the company, make the appointment (section 172(10), Companies Act). An auditor may be removed during his term of office by an ordinary resolution of the company at a general meeting (section 172(4), Companies Act). This provision is necessary to accommodate the case where an existing auditor has become obviously unsuitable to continue in office. However, special notice must be given of such a resolution. Where special notice of a resolution to remove an auditor is received by a company: a. The company must forthwith send a copy of the special notice to the auditor concerned and to the Registrar; and b. The auditor may, within seven days after receipt by of the copy of the special notice, make representations in writing to the company and request that, prior to the meeting at which the resolution is to be considered, a copy of the representations be sent by the company to every member of the company to whom notice of the meeting is sent (section 172(5), Companies Act). c. The company cannot refuse to send the representations to the members unless, on the application of the company, the Registrar orders otherwise. To preserve some degree of independence for the auditor, he/she may, without prejudice to his/her right to be heard orally, require that the representations be read out at the meeting (section 172(6), Companies Act). (5 marks) This question on company law tests the candidates’ knowledge and understanding on auditor’s liability to third parties. The issue in this case is whether a duty of care is owed by the auditing company to Ah Long. As a general rule, an auditor of a company, in auditing the accounts under the Companies Act 1965, owes no duty of care to members of the public at large who have relied on the audited accounts to buy shares in the company. Furthermore, an auditor owes no duty of care to individual shareholders in the company who have relied on the audited accounts to buy more shares in the company. In Caparo Industries plc v Dickman & Ors [1990], the appellants were auditors, and the respondents were shareholders of a company. The respondents purchased more shares in the company after reviewing the audited accounts prepared by the appellants. The company was in fact in a bad financial situation. Because of relying on the audited accounts, the respondents had suffered losses. They brought an action against the appellants, alleging that the accounts of the company audited by the appellants were inaccurately and misleading and that the auditors had been negligent in auditing the accounts. The House of Lords held that the auditors did not owe a duty of care to the respondents. The purpose of the audited accounts prepared by the auditors was to enable the shareholder as a body to exercise informed control of the company and not to enable the individual shareholders to buy CONFIDENTIAL 12 BCL MIAQE/SEPT 2010 more shares in the company with a view to profit. The auditors’ statutory duty to prepare accounts was owed to the body of the shareholders as a whole and not to individual shareholders or the public at large. In the present problem, Ah Long is alleging that the auditing company had been negligent in conducting the audit and that the negligence has caused them loss. Applying the law in Caparo Industries to the given facts, the auditing company may be advised that they owe Ah Long no duty of care. The purpose of the audited account was meant for the companies involved and not to a third party or the public at large. (6 marks) (c) This question on company law tests the candidates’ knowledge on the meaning of promoters. Persons who take steps related to establishing a new company are known as the company’s promoters. See Twycross v Grant. The Companies Act does not define the term ‘promoter’ except for the purpose of liability in regards to the company’s prospectus (sec 4(1)). Duties and responsibilities of promoters as follows: (i) (ii) (d) Fiduciary duties and should act with utmost good faith and not make secret profits out of their promotion Full disclosure. The law requires the disclosure by the promoters to be full, frank and explicit. See Gluckstein v Barnes (1900). (5 marks) This question on company law tests the candidates’ knowledge on the appointment and duties of a company secretary which are as follows: (i) Appointment procedure:1. Section 139(1) – requires every company to have at least one secretary. Each secretary must be a natural person of full age. He must have his principal or only place of residence in a Malaysia. 2. Section 139(1A) – the first secretary is required to be named in the MOA and AOA. Subsequent secretary are appointed by directors – s 139(3). 3. Section 139(A) – a person may be qualified to act as a secretary of a company only if he (a) licensed by the ROC for that purpose or (b) is a member of professional body prescribed by the Minister. 4. Section 139B states that a license may be granted by the registrar only if, after considering the character, qualification and experience of the applicant as well as the interest of the public. (ii) Duties: 1. Carry the functions of the chief administrative officer 2. Maintain different register’s required by the companies Act e.g. register of members, substantial shareholders, charges 3. Prepare and lodge with the Registrar all returns required 4. Organise and attend shareholders and directors’ meeting, preparation of agendas, notices. CONFIDENTIAL BCL 13 MIAQE/SEPT 2010 5. Safeguard company’s seal and legal documents 6. Authentication of documents. (4 marks) (Total : 20 marks) CONFIDENTIAL