S
Sun Wukong
Guest
Singapore
Apr 5, 2010
Errant lawyer faces disciplinary
<!-- by line --> By Selina Lum
<!-- end by line -->
A SINGAPORE lawyer convicted of stealing from a hotel room in Hong Kong two years ago on Monday faced a court of three judges to be disciplined.
The debate before the court - which has the power to censure, suspend or strike lawyers off the roll - revolved around the issue of whether Mr Choy Chee Yean's misconduct was considered dishonest. Typically, lawyers who commit dishonest acts will receive harsher punishments, such as a striking off or a longer period of suspension.
The court, comprising Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong and Judges of Apeal Chao Hick Tin and Andrew Phang, will give its decision at a later date. The Law Society argued that Mr Choy, who pleaded guilty in a Hong Court district court to a charge of burglary, committed an offence that contained an element of dishonesty. But his counsel argued that Mr Choy, who now works as a legal executive in the law firm where he used to be a partner, had pleaded guilty because he did not want to fight a trial in a foreign country away from his family and friends.
Apr 5, 2010
Errant lawyer faces disciplinary
<!-- by line --> By Selina Lum
<!-- end by line -->
A SINGAPORE lawyer convicted of stealing from a hotel room in Hong Kong two years ago on Monday faced a court of three judges to be disciplined.
The debate before the court - which has the power to censure, suspend or strike lawyers off the roll - revolved around the issue of whether Mr Choy Chee Yean's misconduct was considered dishonest. Typically, lawyers who commit dishonest acts will receive harsher punishments, such as a striking off or a longer period of suspension.
The court, comprising Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong and Judges of Apeal Chao Hick Tin and Andrew Phang, will give its decision at a later date. The Law Society argued that Mr Choy, who pleaded guilty in a Hong Court district court to a charge of burglary, committed an offence that contained an element of dishonesty. But his counsel argued that Mr Choy, who now works as a legal executive in the law firm where he used to be a partner, had pleaded guilty because he did not want to fight a trial in a foreign country away from his family and friends.