CHAIN OF CUSTODY PARAMETERS FOR DIGITAL FORENSIC EVIDENCE IN SHARIAH CRIMINAL COURT PROCEEDINGS

Tuan Muhammad Faris Hamzi Tuan Ibrahim; Nasrul Hisyam Nur Muhamad; Ahmad Syukran Baharuddin

doi:10.31436/iiumlj.v33i2.1088

Authors

Tuan Muhammad Faris Hamzi Tuan Ibrahim Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru
Nasrul Hisyam Nur Muhamad Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru
Ahmad Syukran Baharuddin Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v33i2.1088

Keywords:

Digital Forensic, Chain of Custody, Shariah Criminal Procedure, Shariah Criminal Offences

Abstract

The growing prevalence of cyber-enabled Shariah offence has necessitated the integration of digital forensic procedures into Shariah criminal proceedings. However, the absence of an explicit legal framework for the chain of custody (CoC) in handling digital evidence within the Shariah courts creates a critical procedural vacuum. This omission exposes proceedings to dual risks: the exclusion of probative evidence due to doubts about authenticity and the potential for wrongful convictions based on improperly handled or contaminated digital evidence. This study examines the operational role of religious enforcement officers (PPA) as Digital Evidence First Responders (DEFR) under the Syariah Criminal Procedure (Federal Territories) Act 1997, and their compliance with technical protocols outlined in ISO/IEC 27037:2012 and the Standing Instruction of the Director of the State Islamic Religious Department (2007). Using a doctrinal and comparative legal method, the study further analyses 18 Malaysian civil criminal cases to extract recurring CoC deficiencies and judicial expectations. From this analysis, five core CoC parameters are distilled, documentation continuity, evidence integrity, authentication, expert verification and corroborative reliability. These elements are essential in ensuring evidentiary credibility from seizure to courtroom presentation. The findings demonstrate that while Shariah enforcement officers operationally adhere to the existing procedure, these COC practices remain unrecognized in Shariah jurisprudence. This paper proposes the systematic adoption of CoC parameters within the Shariah proceedings to enhance evidentiary reliability and judicial confidence. Institutionalizing such parameters aligns with the maqāṣid al-sharīʿah by advancing justice and procedural transparency in the adjudication of emerging digital crimes.

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