Re CTA: Applicants' Admission to the Bar Adjourned Due to Cheating on Bar Exam
The High Court of Singapore addressed six applications (CTA, CTB, CTC, CTD, CTE, and CTF) for admission to the Bar, where the Attorney-General raised objections due to the applicants cheating on the 2020 Singapore Bar Examinations. Five applicants shared answers via WhatsApp, while one applicant colluded with another examinee. The court, while acknowledging the misconduct, granted adjournments of six months for five applicants and twelve months for one applicant, allowing them time to reflect on their actions. The court emphasized the importance of honesty and integrity in the legal profession.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
General Division of the High Court1.2 Outcome
Applications for admission adjourned.
1.3 Case Type
Regulatory
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Applications for admission to the bar were adjourned for applicants who cheated on the Singapore Bar Examinations. The court emphasized honesty as a core virtue.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General | Respondent | Government Agency | Neutral | Neutral | Lim Toh Han of Attorney-General’s Chambers Jeyendran Jeyapal of Attorney-General’s Chambers Chong Yun Ling of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Law Society of Singapore | Respondent | Statutory Board | Neutral | Neutral | |
| Singapore Institute of Legal Education | Respondent | Statutory Board | Neutral | Neutral | Dew Wong of Singapore Institute of Legal Education |
| CTA | Applicant | Individual | Application adjourned for six months | Other | Lalita Chelliah of Independent Practitioner |
| CTB | Applicant | Individual | Application adjourned for six months | Other | Lalita Chelliah of Independent Practitioner |
| CTC | Applicant | Individual | Application adjourned for six months | Other | Lalita Chelliah of Independent Practitioner |
| CTD | Applicant | Individual | Application adjourned for twelve months | Other | Cheryl Ng of Independent Practitioner |
| CTE | Applicant | Individual | Application adjourned for six months | Other | Lalita Chelliah of Independent Practitioner |
| CTF | Applicant | Individual | Application adjourned for six months | Other | Lalita Chelliah of Independent Practitioner |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge of the High Court | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Lim Toh Han | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Jeyendran Jeyapal | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Chong Yun Ling | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Christopher Daniel | Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP |
| Davis Tan | Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP |
| Dew Wong | Singapore Institute of Legal Education |
| Lalita Chelliah | Independent Practitioner |
| Cheryl Ng | Independent Practitioner |
4. Facts
- Six applicants cheated on the Singapore Bar Examinations in 2020.
- Five applicants shared answers via WhatsApp in six papers.
- One applicant colluded with another examinee in three papers.
- The five applicants who shared answers had to retake six papers.
- The applicant who colluded had to retake the entire Part B course.
- All applicants have since passed the required examinations.
5. Formal Citations
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Applicants cheated in the Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations. | |
| One applicant filed an affidavit apologising for her conduct. | |
| Hearing for admission to the Bar. |
7. Legal Issues
- Admission to the Bar
- Outcome: Applications for admission were adjourned.
- Category: Substantive
- Professional Ethics
- Outcome: Court emphasized the importance of honesty and integrity.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Admission to the Bar
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Regulatory Law
11. Industries
- Legal Services
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| Rule 25 of the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2011 |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Section 12 of the Legal Profession Act 1966 | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Admission to the Bar
- Singapore Bar Examinations
- Cheating
- Professional Ethics
- Honesty
- Integrity
15.2 Keywords
- admission
- bar
- cheating
- ethics
- Singapore
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Admission to the Bar | 100 |
| Legal Profession Act | 90 |
| Professional Ethics | 80 |
| Disciplinary Proceedings | 60 |
16. Subjects
- Legal Education
- Professional Responsibility