UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS

May/June 2020

FOR1501
Forensic Methods and Techniques
100 Marks
Duration 2 Hours

CONFIDENTIAL
This paper consists of 16 pages including cover pages

1. The examination consists of Multiple-Choice Question types only.

2. The examination question paper counts 100 marks and consists of 50 Multiple-Choice
Questions each worth 2 marks. Answer all of the questions.

3. The duration of the examination is 2 hours. You will be allowed a further thirty (30)
minutes after the conclusion of the official examination period to upload your
examination responses (answers) onto the myUnisa platform for further processing.

4. This is a closed-book examination. While the examination is in progress, you are not
allowed to consult another person or any source in order to assist you to answer any of
the questions contained in this question paper. You may also not assist another student
in answering any of the questions contained in this question paper.

5. The answers to this MCQ examination may only be submitted online on myUnisa. The
Unisa MCQ App cannot be used for examination submissions.

5.1 Access myUnisa at https://my.unisa.ac.za/portal and login using your student number
and myUnisa password.

5.2 Click on the “myAdmin” tab in the top navigation

5.3 In the “Assessments” submenu, click on the “Assessment Info” tool in the drop-down
list
 A list of all available assessments will display
 Find the corresponding examination assessment number for your module
 Click on the Submit link in the Action column and follow the steps described
below.

Step 1: Enter the total number of questions required for the assessment.
 Enter the total number of questions for your assessment in the Number of
Questions field
 Click on the Continue button.

Open Rubric
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Step 2: Fill out multiple-choice question answers

The number of questions requested in the previous step will now be displayed with five
answer options next to each one. Please note that each row represents a question in
your assignment.
 Click on the radio button [the small circle] that corresponds to your answer for
that question.
 Click on the Continue button to move to step 3.
 If you want to restart the assignment, click on Clear Form to remove all your
selections and start from new.

Step 3: Verify the answers to your multiple-choice assignment

This screen presents a summary of all your answers. Use it as a final check.
 Click on the Continue button to submit your assignment. If you do not click
Continue, no submission action will take place.
 If you want to redo the answers to the assignment, click Back to go back to the
previous step.

Step 4: Assessment submission report

This is your proof that your examination answers were successfully submitted. If
you do not see this screen, Unisa has not received your submission.

It is advisable to print this page or make a screen capture for record purposes. A copy
of this page will also be emailed to your myLife email account.

PLEASE NOTE:
If you experience technical problems, of any kind, on the day of the examination and your
examination answers are not submitted by the cut-off time, you will be marked as absent and
automatically deferred to the October/November 2020 examination. No other type of
submission of your examination answers will be accepted.
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1. The police detective who is in the employ of a policing agency in South Africa is called
a… (2)
1. criminal investigator
2. forensic investigator
3. corporate investigator
4. forensic detective

2. Private investigators who are in the full-time employ of an organisation, company, or a

bank may also be called … (2)
1. statutory investigators
2. police detectives
3. corporate investigators
4. criminal investigators

3. Investigators who are not the police, private or corporate investigators may also be
called … (2)
1. criminal investigators
2. corporate investigators
3. state investigators
4. statutory investigators

4. The following is an example of private investigation practices which may amount to

illegal or unethical conduct: (2)
1. The search of private premises without the owner's consent
2. Effecting a legal arrest
3. The search of private premise with a search warrant
4. Informing a suspect of the reason for arrest
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5. The responsibilities of the corporate investigator are as follows: (2)

1. Investigation of crime, disciplinary issues, offences and irregularities, tracing and
recovery of stolen property, gathering of information and evidence, and determining
company risks
2. Investigation of crime, prosecuting disciplinary matters, dealing with offences and
irregularities, tracing and recovery of stolen property, gathering of information and
evidence, and determining company risks
3. Protection of company assets, personnel and finance, obtaining private information
and prosecuting offenders
4. Protection of company assets, personnel and finance, protection of company
personnel against offenders, conducting civil proceedings

6. There are three kinds of clearly identified threats that any organisation should be
aware of: (2)
1. The personnel are threatened, the organisation's information is threatened, and the
organisation's property is threatened.
2. The personnel are threatened, the organisation's manager is threatened, and the
manager’s property is threatened.
3. The personnel are threatened, the personnel’s family are threatened, and the
personnel’s property is threatened.
4. The personnel are threatened, the personnel’s property is threatened, and the
organisation's public information is threatened.

7. What is the name of the document in which a person is authorised to proceed with a
specific investigation? (2)
1. contract
2. investigation scope
3. mandate
4. investigative contract
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8. The lawful tracing of people and instruments which may contribute to the reconstruction
of a crime situation and supply information about the people involved in it, is called a …
(2)
1. criminal investigation
2. forensic investigation
3. civil investigation
4. private investigation

9. The positive linking of a person, suspect or perpetrator with a specific incident, crime,
irregularity, transgression or other wrongdoing through a process of identifications is
called….. (2)
1. identification
2. individualisation
3. modus operandi
4. tracing

10. What is a theory that suggests that when two objects come into contact with each other,
it cannot occur without leaving a mark? (2)
1. tracing
2. Leonard’s exchange principle
3. identification
4. Locard’s exchange principle

11. The identification and continued safe possession of physical evidence from the moment
it has been found to when it is accepted as evidence in court. (2)
1. chain of evidence
2. burden of proof
3. standard of proof
4. physical evidence
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12. The person who has suffered loss or experienced trauma and has approached the
authorities for assistance is called a …. (2)
1. suspect
2. victim
3. witness
4. complainant

13. A person who has seen the events or heard what happened and can give direct evidence
in court by telling the court their version of what happened is called a/an…… (2)
1. victim
2. accomplice
3. witness
4. complainant

14. People who have assisted the perpetrators in committing the crime are called… (2)
1. suspects
2. accomplices
3. complainants
4. accused

15. A person who has been charged with the commission of a crime is called a/an.... (2)
1. suspect
2. accused
3. complainant
4. accomplice

16. The “open-ended” question technique is also known as … (2)

1. the Peter principle
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2. the TDE principle

3. the TED principle
4. the RED principle

17. What does one call the conversation between an investigator and a person who is not
suspected of being involved in a crime? (2)
1. interview
2. confession
3. interrogation
4. admission

18. What is it called when the "truth" is forced from a person by assault, torture, threats, or
intimidation? (2)
1. interrogation
2. extraction
3. interview
4. confession

19. What does “standard of proof” refer to? (2)

1. It refers to the degree of difficulty in bringing a case to court.
2. It refers to the amount of evidence that you must bring in a case to secure a
conviction.
3. It refers to proving that your version of the truth is more likely than that of the other
side.
4. It refers to providing evidence in support of allegations made.

20. What is the term for a permanent written or typed document signed under oath or
affirmed, which contains important facts that can be used to investigate a crime? (2)
1. confession
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2. admission

3. affidavit

4. warning statement

21. Who usually drafts sworn statements for civil procedures? (2)
1. commissioner of oaths

2. police officer

3. shop steward

4. advocate

22. What is a confession? (2)

1. admission of guilt

2. admonition of guilt

3. oral testimony

4. verbal testimony

23. For court purposes, it is always best that this person takes the confession of a suspect.
(2)
1. commissioned officer

2. station commissioner

3. magistrate

4. independent advocate
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24. A statement made by a suspect that clears him or her from guilt. (2)
1. exculpatory statement

2. sworn statement

3. guilty plea

4. admission

25. As one of the steps in the investigative process, it is important to … (2)

1. open a case docket and help the police gather evidence.
2. complete an investigation file and charge the suspect.
3. gather evidence and obtain a search warrant.
4. testify at the trial if you are required to do so.

26. Information is vitally important in any investigation. Without information it is not possible
to know … (2)
1. where the suspect is
2. where the crime was committed
3. who the victim is
4. that a problem exists

27. When can contemporaneous notes be used? (2)

1. when interrogating a suspect

2. when interviewing a witness

3. when the investigator testifies in court

4. when an accused testifies in court

28. Many investigators use the “Five Whiskeys and One Hotel” principle for gathering
information. This is an acronym for … (2)
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1. Who? What? Where? Why? Whenever? And How?

2. Who? What? Where? Why? Whether? And How?

3. Whose? What? Where? Why? When? And How?

4. Who? What? Where? Why? When? And How?

29. An unsworn statement is a valuable piece of evidence. The following is an example of

such a statement: (2)
1. press release

2. spontaneous confession

3. forced admission

4. witness statement

30. This type of statement is an example of hearsay evidence. (2)

1. exculpatory statement

2. dying declaration

3. eyewitness statement

4. suspect’s statement

31. Before a statement is taken from a suspect, what must happen? (2)
1. The suspect must be warned according to the judges’ rules.

2. The suspect’s right to apply for bail must be explained to him or her.

3. The suspect must be given an opportunity to give their version of events.

4. The suspect must be allowed to speak to a legal representative.

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32. When interviewing suspects and taking their statements, some general rules should be
adhered too. These are: (2)
1. Control your temper and remain calm.

2. Do not make any promises that you cannot keep.

3. Always treat the suspect like a suspect.

4. Make sure the suspect knows who you are.

33. A cooperative witness must always appear in court. A statement submitted by such a
witness is also called a … (2)
1. section 205 statement

2. section 202 statement

3. section 212 statement

4. section 313 statement

34. The provisions of section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act will be applied when dealing
with the following type of person: (2)
1. cooperative suspect

2. cooperative victim

3. uncooperative witness

4. uncooperative suspect

35. What is the primary difference between a confession and an admission? (2)
1. A confession is when a suspect confesses to certain actions that form part of the
crime, but an admission is when the suspect admits to committing the crime.
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2. A confession is when a suspect confesses to committing a crime, but an admission

is when the suspect admits to only certain aspects of committing the crime.

3. A confession is when a suspect confesses to the crime but gives an explanation to

why it was done, and an admission is when a suspect admits to committing the
crime.

4. A confession is when a suspect admits guilt in terms of committing the crime, and
an admission is when a suspect makes a statement that is to their disadvantage.

36. When drafting a statement, it is very important in the preamble to get the following
information from the deponent: (2)
1. full names and ID number of the deponent

2. racial and ethnic group of the deponent

3. identity and passport number of the deponent

4. academic qualifications of the deponent

37. Why is it important to view the identity document of the deponent at the time of drafting
the statement? (2)
1. to make sure that you have captured the nationality of the deponent correctly

2. to make sure that you have captured the residential status of the deponent
correctly

3. to make sure that you have spelled the names of the deponent correctly

4. to make sure that you have captured the address of the deponent correctly

38. Once a statement has been typed from a handwritten and signed version, you may …
(2)
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1. destroy the original handwritten version and ask the deponent to sign the typed
copy

2. destroy the original handwritten version and you do not have to have it signed

3. destroy the original

4. not destroy the original

39. If a deponent is unable to sign a statement, the following process must be followed:
(2)
1. The highest-ranking officer in the client service centre must sign as a witness.

2. The highest-ranking commissioned officer in the client service centre must sign as
a witness.

3. The deponent must affix his or her thumbprint in the place of their signature and
be identified as such by the commissioner of oaths.

4. The police official taking the statement signs the statement as a witness.

40. A well-organised and professionally written sworn statement must be … (2)

1. accurate, concise, complete, comprehensive and verifiable

2. accurate, considered, complete, comprehensive and truthful

3. concise, complete, comprehensive, truthful and accurate

4. concise, accurate, objective, comprehensive and the truth

41. Statements may contain defects. Which of the following are defects that occur may in a
statement? (2)
1. The statement does not contain a physical address of the crime scene.

2. The statement does not contain the signature of the witness.

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3. The statement is not written on lined paper.

4. The statement is written on scrap paper.

42. When writing a statement, the rule of thumb is that each paragraph should contain …
sentences. (2)
1. no more than 10

2. no more than 25

3. no more than 15

4. no more than 20

43. Judges’ rules form an important part of an investigation process. Where can these rules
be found? (2)
1. Judges’ rules have no force in law and will therefore not be found in an act of
parliament.

2. Judges’ rules are found in an act of parliament.

3. Judges’ rules are captured within the Bill of Rights.

4. Judges’ rules are captured in section 35 of the Constitution.

44. In which chapter of the Constitution can the Bill of Rights be found? (2)
1. Chapter 2

2. Chapter 1

3. Chapter 4

4. Chapter 5
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45. A crime scene refers to the place where … (2)

1. the crime was planned

2. the crime was reported

3. the victim was raped

4. the victim went for help

46. In the physical space, a crime scene may include … (2)

1. a house, a car and a boat

2. a boat, a car and cyberspace

3. a vehicle, a house and the internet browser history

4. a boat, a car and the internet search history

47. When information is gathered from crime scenes, it is usually gathered for the following
purposes. Choose the correct sequence. (2)
1. individualisation, interpretation and analysis

2. individualisation, analysis and presentation

3. interpretation, analysis and identification

4. analysis, individualisation and categorisation

48. As the investigator, there are some things that you should NOT be doing at a crime
scene. Choose one of them…….. (2)
1. You may NOT call anyone from your personal cell phone while you are at the
scene.

2. You may NOT sit in your vehicle and eat lunch (outside the cordoning tape).
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3. You may NOT pick up any object or item which is within the crime scene

4. You may NOT talk to other police officers at the crime scene.

49. The chain of custody is one of the elements that the defence attacks in the court. For this
reason, it is very important to keep the chain of custody ... (2)
1. as short as possible

2. as long as possible

3. as clear as possible

4. as strong as possible

50. Giving evidence in a court or other tribunal can be daunting. It is well known that the
defence counsel will often attack the … of the investigator. (2)
1. academic qualifications

2. educational history

3. integrity

4. marital status

TOTAL [100]

©
UNISA 2020