200 Laws of Malaysia Act 593 (2) In case the officer in charge of any prison shall state in any certificate signed by him that the fingerprints which appear on the certificate are those of the person to whom the certificate relates, that certificate shall be evidence of the fact so stated. (3) Every Court shall presume to be genuine every document purporting to be a certificate of conviction and purporting to be signed by the officer in charge of any prison in Malaysia or the Republic of Singapore, and shall also presume that the officer by whom the document purports to be signed was when he signed it the officer in charge of the prison mentioned in that document. Record of evidence in absence of accused 401. (1) If it is proved that an accused person has absented himself so that there is no immediate prospect of arresting him, the Court competent to try that person for the offence complained of may, in his absence, examine the witnesses, if any, produced on behalf of the prosecution and record their depositions. (2) Any such deposition may, on the arrest of that person, be given in evidence against him on the trial for the offence with which he is charged, if the deponent is dead or incapable of giving evidence or his attendance cannot be procured without an amount of delay, expense or inconvenience which under the circumstances of the case would be unreasonable. (3) If it appears that an offence punishable with death or with imprisonment has been committed by some person or persons unknown the Court of a First Class Magistrate may hold an inquiry and examine any witnesses who can give evidence concerning the offence. Any depositions so taken may be given in evidence against any person who is subsequently accused of the offence if the deponent is dead or incapable of giving evidence or is beyond the limits of Malaysia.