Robert Radley, a UK-based forensic expert and one of prosecution witnesses Thursday told the Accountability Court that it is incorrect that Calibri font was being used by people in 2005 as at that time it was only available to a limited number of IT experts for testing purpose. Robert W Radley, Principal Radley Forensic Document Laboratory and forensic handwriting and document examination expert, while recording his statement in Avenfield supplementary reference before the Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir said that he examined the possible change in the dates on the declaration papers of Nelson and Nescol. He said that he had prepared two reports.
He said that he examined the typing font of trust deed of two companies provided to him. Calibri font, in which the trust deed of two companies was typed, was not available commercially until January 31, 2007. Calibri font had not been launched commercially before January 31, 2007, he added. The court was supposed to record the statements of two witnesses - Robert Radley and Principal Quist solicitors Akhtar Raja - via a video-link from Pakistan High Commission in the UK.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, Investigation Director Amjad Majeed, representative of Mian Nawaz Sharif, Barrister Saad Hashmi, the counsel for the Sharif family Malik Amjad and Pakistan High Commissioner Syed bin Abbas were present at Pakistan High Commission in London, where the recording took place and transmitted live to the court here in Islamabad.
During the cross-examination of witness, Khawaja Haris, the counsel for Nawaz Sharif, asked the witness that he had not mentioned the word 'commercially' in his report. To which, the witness said that he had very much mentioned that word in paragraph number 6 of the report.
The Sharif family counsel questioned if it was correct that there was a pre-release of first editions of Window Vista Beta before it was made available commercially in 2005. The witness said that it was correct that Window Vista Beta first edition was released in 2005 but it was only available to IT experts and IT developers for testing purposes. "It was available to IT experts and IT developers for testing purposes and they were not using it," he contended.
Haris further asked the witness if it is correct that Calibri font was available with pre-release of Window Vista Beta. The witness said that Calibri font was only available to IT experts for testing purposes as well as to check the design of software in order to check how the software interacts with other softwares.
When Haris said that tens of thousands of people were using the Calibri font of Window Vista Beta, the witness said that he did disagree to the question of the defence counsel. He reiterated that the software was only available to IT experts but they were not using it and it was made available for just testing purposes.
When the counsel asked the witness if it is correct that he is responding to his questions regarding Calibri font through notes, the witness said: "Yes, I am. It is a standard practice in England." He asked when he prepared the notes, adding if the notes were meant to argue the case, to which the witness replied: "Yes, it is correct. I prepared the notes for arguments and also discussed it with NAB deputy prosecutor in a meeting."
To this, the counsel made objection, saying the witness is arguing by looking at notes, and requested the judge to provide copies of the notes, so that the he can further argue on Friday. Radly, while recording his statement, said that he had received copies of the trust deed on June 29, 2017 and received some more documents on July 6 last year. He said that after he compared the copies of the documents, it was found that pages number 2 and 3 of the declaration were changed.
"The page two and three of both the declarations seemed similar and it was hard to differentiate which one is fake and which one is original," he contended. He further told the court that '2004' was changed into '2006' in the documents, adding that most likely '4' was in place of '6' on the paper. He said that the documents had four stapler holes instead of two, which shows that to change the documents the corner piece was opened.
Haris further asked the witness if he had asked for separate schedule attached with the report. The witness said that his task was to return the document in the same form in which it was received. The defence counsel said, "You had not demanded schedule attached with report as well as it was not mentioned in the report. "Neither did I ask for schedule attached with the report nor was it my job," he replied. The record of statement of witness could not be completed on Thursday and the court adjourned hearing till Friday.
Earlier, Nawaz's counsel Khawaja Haris objected to the presence of NAB officials in London. The judge remarked that a representative of the accused was also present in the High Commission to maintain balance, to which Haris responded that the representatives were just there for observation.
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