[2007] SGHC 20
Suit No: OS 1361/2006, SUM 3522/2006
Decision Date: 13 Feb 2007
Court: High Court
Coram: Andrew Phang Boon Leong JA, Chan Sek Keong CJ, Judith Prakash J
Counsel: Mirza Namazie and Chua Boon Beng (Mallal & Namazie) for the applicant, The respondent in person
Judgment
13 February 2007
Chan Sek Keong CJ (delivering the grounds of decision of the court):
1 This was an application by the Law Society of Singapore (“the Law Society”) under s 98 of the Legal Profession Act (Cap 161, 2001 Rev Ed) (“the Act”) for Mr Ravi Madasamy (“the respondent”), an advocate and solicitor of seven years’ standing, to show cause why he should not be dealt with under s 83(1) of the Act.
The amended charge
2 The amended charge made against the respondent before the Law Society’s Disciplinary Committee (“DC”) (“the amended Charge”) reads as follows:
That Ravi Madasamy is guilty of such misconduct unbefitting an advocate and solicitor, as an officer of the Supreme Court, or as a member of an honourable profession within the meaning of Section 83(2)(h) of the Legal Profession Act (Chapter 161) in that on the morning of 9th October 2003 at Court 26, Subordinate Courts, Havelock Road, Ravi Madasamy failed to act with due courtesy to the District Judge Wong Choon Ning before whom he was appearing by:-
a) turning his back on the said District Judge while being addressed;
b) remaining seated while being addressed by the said District Judge;
c) speaking in loud tones to the Prosecuting Officer whilst mention cases were being carried out, thereby interfering with the court proceedings;
d) responding to the said District Judge in an unbecoming manner.
3 Having heard the submissions of the respective parties, we granted the Law Society’s application at the conclusion of the hearing and ordered that the respondent be suspended from practice for a period of one year and bear the costs of the application. We now give the reasons for our decision.
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