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SINGAPORE: On Monday (Jul 31), the Courtroom of Three Judges cleared Christopher de Souza of misconduct as a lawyer. The Legislation Society, which initially raised 5 prices towards him, had sought a four-year suspension for Mr de Souza.
Nevertheless, the 47-year-old PAP Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Deputy Speaker of Parliament was discovered responsible in December 2022 by a disciplinary tribunal of solely one of many prices, aiding a shopper to suppress proof from the court docket.
Mr de Souza appeared happy upon listening to the decision, CNA reported.
The Courtroom of Three Judges, comprised within the MP’s case of Justices Belinda Ang, Woo Bih Li and Kannan Ramesh, is the very best disciplinary physique for legal professionals. It’s throughout the Courtroom’s purview to disbar, droop or high-quality a lawyer responsible {of professional} misconduct or to clear a lawyer of those prices.
The cost towards Mr de Souza, a accomplice at Lee & Lee, was associated to dealings along with his purchasers, Amber Compounding Pharmacy and Amber Laboratories.
The disciplinary tribunal decided that Mr de Souza had did not make “a full and frank disclosure to the court docket when he was conscious that his shopper had breached the situations of a search order,” reported The Straits Occasions.
Nevertheless, on Jul 31, the Courtroom of Three Judges mentioned that it had been evident that the MP had not meant to suppress the breach.
“Intention is a crucial ingredient of the cost”, the Legislation Society had made towards Mr de Souza, mentioned Justice Belinda Ang, who had delivered the decision.
She added that the lawyer had urged his shopper to reveal the breach persistently, primarily based on the proof introduced.
Mr de Souza mentioned by his legal professionals that he was “naturally extraordinarily happy” concerning the vindication three years after the case started in 2020.
He additionally thanked his colleagues, associates, and constituents for his or her “unstinting assist and encouragement throughout this time,” added CNA. /TISG
Skilled disciplinary listening to set for PAP MP Christopher de Souza
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