CONFIDENTIAL FOR2601-OCT/NOV-2024

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UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS

Oct/Nov 2024

FOR2601
Forensic Methods and Techniques
(Module A)

100 marks
Duration: 4 hours

First examiner: Mr MC Marakalala

Second examiner: Prof DQ Mabunda

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE ANSWERING THE

EXAMINATION QUESTIONS.
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Instructions
1. The examination question paper counts 100 marks.
2. The examination paper consists of four questions. Answer all the questions.
3. The duration of the examination on the timetable is FOUR hours.
4. In addition to the duration of the examination indicated on the timetable, you are given 30 minutes to
FINALISE the uploading of your examination file. Your exam file must be uploaded via the
myExams platform on 28 October 2024, before 18:45 South African Standard Time (SAST).
5. This is an open-book examination. You may consult the prescribed study material during the
examination.
6. This examination is proctored via The Invigilator app. You are required to activate The Invigilator app
between 14:00 and 14:45 South African Standard Time (SAST).

6.1 Please note: If a student is found to have been outside the invigilator app for a total of 10 minutes
during their examination session, they will be considered to have violated Unisa's examination rules
and their marks will be withheld.

6.2 You only have 10 minutes after the scheduled (timetabled) exam time to submit your script on
the Invigilator App.

6.3 You will have 48 hours from the date of their examination to upload their invigilator results from
the Invigilator App. Failure to do so will result in students deemed not to have utilised the invigilation
or proctoring tools.

7. The uploading of your exam file on the myExams platform must be finalised within 30 minutes of
the scheduled (timetabled) end of the exam.

7.1 When ready to submit, open the Take-Home (Assignment) assessment again and click on the Add
Submission button.
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7.2. Note the file requirements such as:

a. File size limit.
b. Number of files that can be submitted.
c. File formats allowed.

7.3. Check the acknowledgment checkbox and upload your answers document and then click
on the Save changes button.
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7.4. Review your submission information regarding the status and click on your submission file
link to check if it's correct.

7.5. If you need to resubmit a file, you can click on the Edit Submission button. Do not click on
the Remove submission button. Note: You will need to delete any existing files by clicking
on the file and then on delete.
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7.6 Use proper PDF conversion software to create the final file for upload. Free PDF conversion
software is available on the Internet.

7.7 Add your student number and the module code in the file name. That will assist you to select
the correct document to upload during submission.

7.8 You are advised to preview your submission (answer script) to ensure legibility and that the correct
answer script file has been uploaded.

8. The cover page for your take-home exam must include your name, student number and the
module code.

9. It is preferred that your take-home exam is typed. However, handwritten submissions will also
be accepted. If the take-home exam is typed, the maximum length is 10 pages (which
includes the cover page and the bibliography). If the take-home exam is handwritten, the
maximum length is 12 pages (which includes the cover page and the bibliography).

10. Whether your answers are typed or handwritten, your submission on the myExams platform on
Moodle must be made in the form of one PDF document. Only the last file uploaded and submitted
will be marked.

10.1 The exam answer file that you submit must not be password protected or uploaded as a “read
only” file.

10.2 Your examination answer file will not be marked if:

10.2.1 you send your examination answer file via email.

10.2.2 you submit the incorrect examination answer file. A mark of 0% will be awarded.
10.2.3 you submit your exam answer file on an unofficial examination.
10.2.4 you submit your examination answer file in the incorrect file format.
10.2.5 you submit a password-protected document.
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10.2.6 you submit your examination answer file late.

10.2.7 you submit your answer file from a registered student account that is not your own.

10.3 The mark awarded for an illegible examination answer file submission will be your final mark. You will
not be allowed to resubmit after the scheduled closing date and time of the exam.

10.4 Listening to audio (music) and utilising audio-to-text software has been strictly prohibited during your
examination session, unless use of the software is related to a student’s assistive device which has
been declared. Listening to music, utilising such software and/or failing to declare the software is a
transgression of Unisa’s examination rules and the student's marks will be withheld.

11. If your answers are typed, ensure that the following requirements are adhered to. Items 11.3-
11.6 applies to written assignments as well.

11.1 The text must be typed in Arial font, size 12 with single line spacing within the paragraph, and
double line spacing after the paragraph.

11.2 The text must be justified.

11.3 All of the pages must be numbered in the right-hand corner at the bottom of the page.

11.4 All margins must be 2.5cm, but the left margin must be 3cm.

11.5 South African English and not American English should be used. For example, the correct
spelling is “Labour” and not “Labor”.

11.6 Do not use abbreviations or SMS language.

11.7 All quotes that are two lines long (or less), must form part of the main text, be written in italics,
and be bracketed by quotation marks. Where a quotation is longer than two lines, it must be
typed in a separate paragraph in italics in size 11 font and must be indented by 1 cm. No
quotation marks are required when the quotations stand alone. Use quotations very sparingly.
In this take-home exam, a maximum of 5% of the text may be quoted.
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12. When answering the take-home exam questions, remember that an open-book exam is a
test at a higher level than the usual type of exam, where memory is tested as much as insight.
In an open-book exam, you need not memorise any information. You are expected to prove
that you can use information, rather than merely repeat it. In brief, what is being tested is
factual knowledge, understanding and the correct application thereof, not memory skills. For
this reason, you do not earn marks by merely detailing a list of all the information that you
think might be relevant to a particular question. This gives no indication that you know what
statutory or other provisions are applicable in a specific context. You are expected to identify
precisely what information applies, and then explain why you think so.

12.1 Also, because you have the guide available when answering questions, we do not give marks
for direct quotations from the guide. You are therefore assessed on your level of
understanding of the legal principles by looking at how well you applied the principles to the
questions.

12.2 PLEASE DO NOT CUT AND PASTE ANSWERS FROM THE STUDY GUIDE (OR ANY
OTHER SOURCE).

13. The arguments that you make must be logical, well-structured and substantiated by all of the
relevant legal principles. Use the time given wisely.

13.1 Ensure that you give reasons for each answer. Substantiate your answers by referring to ALL
of the relevant authorities, e.g. sections from relevant legislation and/or court cases in the
text or in your footnotes.

13.2 You are required to have read and summarised the prescribed cases yourself. The
summaries in the Study Guide are not sufficient for this exam. When using case law to
support your answer, please include complete references to the relevant cases in your
footnotes. This means that you must not only include the name of the case but also the exact
page and section and/or paragraph where the information can be found. The same applies
to articles and books used.

13.3 A number of students lose marks because they do not approach problem-type questions
correctly. When answering such questions, it is important to first clarify for yourself the area
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of work where the answer must be sought. Once you have done this, set out the relevant
legal principles. Deal only with those principles that relate to the given facts. Next, apply these
principles to the facts. This is where most of the students lose marks - they set out the law in
some detail, but then do not illustrate how it applies to the factual situation they have been
asked to solve. Finally, state your conclusion.

14. You must complete the online declaration of own work when submitting.

14.1 By ticking the Honesty Declaration, you confirm that you have read (i) the University’s Policy
on Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism and the Student Disciplinary Code, which are both
available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/unisarules, and (ii) the information relating to student
values and plagiarism that is found at https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-
@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules.

14.2 Students suspected of dishonest conduct during the examinations will be subjected to disciplinary
processes. Students may not communicate with any other person or request assistance from any
other person during their examinations. The use of Telegram, WhatsApp or any other instant
messaging services with any other person (except when asking for technical assistance via official
channels of the SCSC or the Invigilator WhatsApp line) are strictly prohibited. Plagiarism is a violation
of academic integrity and students who plagiarise, copy from published works or use Artificial
Intelligence Software (eg ChatGPT) or online sources (eg course material. For open book exams,
change to ‘other than the course material) will be in violation of the Policy on Academic Integrity and
the Student Disciplinary Code and may be referred to a disciplinary hearing. Unisa has a zero
tolerance for plagiarism and/or any other forms of academic dishonesty.

14.3 Unless a student is exempted because of disability or incarceration, students who have not
utilised invigilation or proctoring tools will be deemed to have transgressed Unisa’s
examination rules and will have their marks withheld.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you experience challenges with the Invigilator app, please send a WhatsApp message to the
technical helpdesk on 073 505 8273. Do not contact the lecturers.

For all other exam-related challenges, you may contact the SCSC on 080 000 1870 or e-mail
Examenquiries@unisa.ac.za or refer to Get-Help for the list of additional contact numbers.
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TAKE-HOME EXAM

QUESTION 1

Digital devices refer to both cameras and recorders, which are used to store data
messages.

Briefly discuss the admissibility of data messages and apply real-life practical examples
from digital devices. (20)

[20]

QUESTION 2

2.1 Briefly explain each of the THREE key emotional intelligence inquiry models.(20)

2.2 Briefly explain the judges' rules and standards for interviewing someone who is
already in jail or under arrest. (10)

[30]
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QUESTION 3

When we refer to recording, there are a number of possibilities. In the forensic

investigation process, recording refers to how evidence is obtained and documented,
how statements and findings are obtained and the format in which this is done and then
stored. We speak of a witness statement being recorded in writing. When judicial
proceedings are recorded, they have either been taken down in longhand or recorded
on a device such as a tape recorder. Since the advent of video recording machines,
investigators have used these to record the scene of a crime, interviews with witnesses
or exhibits that are too large to bring to court.

3.1 Critically discuss the devices and apparatus that generate evidence. (10)

3.2 Discuss the tactical measures you must consider while beginning a fresh inquiry
critically. (15)

[25]

QUESTION 4

4.1 Name and describe the FIVE ways that an interview and an interrogation vary
from one another. (15)

4.2 Describe in your own words the methods that auditors can employ to find fraud
within an organisation. (10)

[25]

TOTAL GRAND: 100

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