Knight Glenn Jeyasingam v Law Society: Reinstatement After Corruption Conviction
Knight Glenn Jeyasingam applied to the High Court of Singapore for reinstatement to the roll of advocates and solicitors after being struck off following a conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Law Society of Singapore and the Attorney-General did not object to the application. The court, comprising Chan Sek Keong CJ, Andrew Phang Boon Leong JA, and V K Rajah JA, allowed the application, finding that sufficient time had passed and the applicant had demonstrated rehabilitation.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Application Allowed
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Application for reinstatement to the roll of advocates and solicitors after being struck off for a corruption conviction was allowed.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight Glenn Jeyasingam | Applicant | Individual | Application Allowed | Won | Chelva Retnam Rajah, Lalitha Rajah |
| Law Society of Singapore | Respondent | Statutory Board | Neutral | Neutral | Sharmini Yogarajah |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Chan Sek Keong | Chief Justice | Yes |
| Andrew Phang Boon Leong | Justice of the Court of Appeal | No |
| V K Rajah | Justice of the Court of Appeal | No |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Chelva Retnam Rajah | Tan Rajah & Cheah |
| Lalitha Rajah | Tan Rajah & Cheah |
| Sharmini Yogarajah | Haridass Ho & Partners |
| Valerie Thean | Attorney-General's Chambers |
4. Facts
- The Applicant was admitted as an advocate and solicitor in 1973.
- The Applicant was convicted of an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act in 1991.
- The Applicant was struck off the roll of advocates and solicitors in 1994.
- The Applicant was convicted of offences under the Penal Code in 1998 relating to conduct prior to 1991.
- The Law Society and the Attorney-General did not object to the Applicant's application for restoration.
- The Applicant presented testimonials attesting to his good character and rehabilitation.
5. Formal Citations
- Knight Glenn Jeyasingam v Law Society of Singapore, OS 506/2007, [2007] SGHC 105
- Knight v PP, , [1992] 1 SLR 720
- Re Knight Glenn Jeyasingam, , [1994] 3 SLR 531
- Re Chan Chow Wang, , [1982-1983] SLR 413
- Re Lim Cheng Peng, , [1987] SLR 486
- Re Nirmal Singh s/o Fauja Singh, , [2001] 3 SLR 608
- Re Gnaguru s/o Thamboo Mylvaganam, , [2004] SGHC 180
- Re Ram Kishan, , [1992] 1 SLR 529
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Applicant admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore | |
| Applicant appointed the Director of the Commercial Affairs Department | |
| Applicant held position as Director of the Commercial Affairs Department until this date | |
| Applicant committed offence under s 6(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act | |
| Applicant suspended from the Singapore Legal Service | |
| Applicant charged with an offence under s 6(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act | |
| Applicant convicted on his plea of guilt in the Magistrate’s Court | |
| Applicant's sentence reduced on appeal by the High Court | |
| A disciplinary committee of the Law Society of Singapore appointed to hear complaints against the Applicant | |
| Applicant struck off the roll | |
| Applicant charged with offences under ss 403 and 408 of the Penal Code | |
| Application allowed |
7. Legal Issues
- Reinstatement to Roll of Advocates and Solicitors
- Outcome: The court allowed the application for reinstatement.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Fitness for profession
- Defect of character
- Conditions on Practising Certificate
- Outcome: The court did not impose any conditions on the applicant's practising certificate, but the applicant offered an undertaking not to practice as a sole proprietor for a period of time.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Reinstatement to the roll of advocates and solicitors
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Disciplinary Proceedings
- Legal Ethics
11. Industries
- Legal
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight v PP | High Court | Yes | [1992] 1 SLR 720 | Singapore | Cited for the applicant's distinguished record of public service and commendation from the Minister for Finance. |
| Re Knight Glenn Jeyasingam | Court of Three Judges | Yes | [1994] 3 SLR 531 | Singapore | Cited as the judgment where the applicant was struck off the roll of advocates and solicitors. |
| Re Chan Chow Wang | Unspecified | Yes | [1982-1983] SLR 413 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that a significant period should elapse before applying for restoration. |
| Re Lim Cheng Peng | Unspecified | Yes | [1987] SLR 486 | Singapore | Cited regarding the consideration of voluntary cessation of practice before being struck off the roll. |
| Re Nirmal Singh s/o Fauja Singh | Unspecified | Yes | [2001] 3 SLR 608 | Singapore | Cited regarding the consideration of involuntary cessation of practice before being struck off the roll. |
| Re Gnaguru s/o Thamboo Mylvaganam | High Court | Yes | [2004] SGHC 180 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that a significant period should elapse before applying for restoration. |
| Re Ram Kishan | Unspecified | Yes | [1992] 1 SLR 529 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that the onus is on the applicant to convince the court that he is still a person on whose integrity and honour reliance may be placed. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Legal Profession Act (Cap 161, 2001 Rev Ed) s 102 | Singapore |
| Legal Profession Act (Cap 161, 2001 Rev Ed) s 25A(2)(b) | Singapore |
| Prevention of Corruption Act (Cap 241, 1970 Ed) s 6(c) | Singapore |
| Penal Code (Cap 224, 1985 Rev Ed) ss 403 | Singapore |
| Penal Code (Cap 224, 1985 Rev Ed) ss 408 | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Reinstatement
- Roll of advocates and solicitors
- Legal Profession Act
- Corruption
- Disciplinary proceedings
- Public interest
- Practising certificate
15.2 Keywords
- reinstatement
- legal profession
- corruption
- law society
- singapore
16. Subjects
- Legal Profession
- Ethics
- Reinstatement
17. Areas of Law
- Legal Profession
- Reinstatement on roll of advocates and solicitors