If the captain had ascertained that his aircraft really was safe to fly before scribbling his signature on the tech log....
OK we're back to this one. I'm aware of the ANO so no verbatim quotes please, but may I ask the fellow captains here the following question? If you arrive at the aircraft, delegate the walkround, check that everything required has been signed off as complete by the engineers (for example but not exclusively Daily Inspections, Transit checks, ETOPS checks,) and have also satisfied yourself that the loaded fuel, oils etc, are sufficient for the flight then how much further into the maintenance process do you fellow professionals routinely "drill" down before accepting the aircraft ....err sorry, scribbling
your name in the tech log?