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A case of one bahyi helping a fellow bahyi. Do u think the application for reinstatement would have succeeded if it was another less prominient lawyer who argued the case on his behalf?
Lawyer reinstated after 15 years
FIFTEEN years after he was disbarred for offering a bribe to a police officer to let his client off, 56-year-old Nirmal Singh succeeded yesterday in being reinstated as a lawyer.
It was the second attempt by Mr Singh, who had a short-lived legal career before he was struck off, to have his name restored to the rolls.
His first try, in 2001, was met with objections by both the Law Society and the Attorney-General's Chambers and was ultimately dismissed by the Court of Three Judges.
At that time, the court had considered his application to be premature and was not convinced that he was fully rehabilitated or that the public would be protected if he was allowed back into practice.
Yesterday, the Law Society and Attorney-General's Chambers did not object to Mr Singh's application.
The society stipulated certain conditions that Mr Singh has to accept if he wants to practise - and he has agreed.
Yesterday, the court, in reinstating him, made minor changes to these conditions.
In effect, for two years, Mr Singh cannot practise as a partner or director of a law firm and has to work for a firm with a partner or director who has at least 12 years' standing to oversee his work. And for five years, he is not allowed to run his own law firm or handle clients' money.
Mr Singh was a police officer before he became a lawyer in 1989. His legal career came to an end just four years later, after he was convicted of three charges of corruption and one charge of criminal breach of trust and was jailed for 18 months.
In 1990, he had offered $3,000 to a police officer to let his client off for housebreaking and also received $5,000 from the client for helping him.
He was disbarred in 1995.
Yesterday, his lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, in arguing for his client's reinstatement, pointed out that he has held jobs with three different employers, heading the legal and human resources department.
He has also been doing volunteer work and has furthered his education, getting a master's degree in maritime law in 2002.
Mr Davinder Singh submitted glowing testimonials from his client's employers, noting that Mr Nirmal Singh was entrusted with large sums of money that were fully accounted for.
Mr Davinder Singh argued that his client has been fully rehabilitated and in the last 14 years has made efforts to keep up with changes in the law.
Lawyer reinstated after 15 years
FIFTEEN years after he was disbarred for offering a bribe to a police officer to let his client off, 56-year-old Nirmal Singh succeeded yesterday in being reinstated as a lawyer.
It was the second attempt by Mr Singh, who had a short-lived legal career before he was struck off, to have his name restored to the rolls.
His first try, in 2001, was met with objections by both the Law Society and the Attorney-General's Chambers and was ultimately dismissed by the Court of Three Judges.
At that time, the court had considered his application to be premature and was not convinced that he was fully rehabilitated or that the public would be protected if he was allowed back into practice.
Yesterday, the Law Society and Attorney-General's Chambers did not object to Mr Singh's application.
The society stipulated certain conditions that Mr Singh has to accept if he wants to practise - and he has agreed.
Yesterday, the court, in reinstating him, made minor changes to these conditions.
In effect, for two years, Mr Singh cannot practise as a partner or director of a law firm and has to work for a firm with a partner or director who has at least 12 years' standing to oversee his work. And for five years, he is not allowed to run his own law firm or handle clients' money.
Mr Singh was a police officer before he became a lawyer in 1989. His legal career came to an end just four years later, after he was convicted of three charges of corruption and one charge of criminal breach of trust and was jailed for 18 months.
In 1990, he had offered $3,000 to a police officer to let his client off for housebreaking and also received $5,000 from the client for helping him.
He was disbarred in 1995.
Yesterday, his lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, in arguing for his client's reinstatement, pointed out that he has held jobs with three different employers, heading the legal and human resources department.
He has also been doing volunteer work and has furthered his education, getting a master's degree in maritime law in 2002.
Mr Davinder Singh submitted glowing testimonials from his client's employers, noting that Mr Nirmal Singh was entrusted with large sums of money that were fully accounted for.
Mr Davinder Singh argued that his client has been fully rehabilitated and in the last 14 years has made efforts to keep up with changes in the law.
