Bogus lawyer practised in three states
18/03/2007 Sunday Star By Wani Muthiah

KLANG: He was cool and convincing enough to fool his clients, judges and lawyers. He knew enough legal jargon to appear in court and even mentioned cases on behalf of his “fellow” lawyers.

But in the end, it was his dressing that gave him away. One day he appeared in court wearing an ordinary shirt and bib, triggering suspicion among other lawyers.

Selangor Bar Committee member N. Logen said, “A qualified lawyer and a member of the Bar would definitely know that he should have worn a wing-tip collared shirt with a bib. We became suspicious.”

The Selangor Bar Committee called up the Bar Council to check if his name was on its list. At the same time, the lawyers expressed their suspicions to a magistrate and a Sessions court judge in Klang.

When the man, who is in his 40s, appeared before the magistrate, he was asked to produce his practising certificate. The man gave some excuse and said he would produce it later. At about the same time, the Bar Council replied that his name was not on its roll and a police report was lodged.

But before the man could be nabbed, he bolted. All that took place in 2004. By the time he made his escape, he had “practised” law in Klang for eight months from his “firm” based in Bukit Tinggi, Klang.

During his stint in Klang, he had represented several clients, mentioned cases in the Shah Alam High Court and also mentioned cases on behalf of his “colleagues”. Once, he even successfully applied for bail for a suspect in a rape case in the Klang Sessions Court.

Police are trying to piece together what he did after he scooted off from Klang and it is believed that he “practised” as a lawyer in Kuala Lumpur where he was arrested and jailed for two months for fraud in 2005.

After that, he tried his luck in Johor Baru, where it is believed that he opened a “legal” firm and continued “practising” as a lawyer.

However, the long arm of the law finally caught up with the bogus lawyer on Thursday some 900km from his office when he went to Alor Star for his wedding.

He has been in remand here since Friday and is expected to be brought to court on Tuesday for his remand order to be extended while police trace the extent of his illegal practice, sources said.

But that is not the end of his legal activities, as he told an old lawyer friend who visited him in the police lock-up that he will be defending himself.

According to Logen, the impostor got away pretending to be a lawyer because of a loophole that did not require lawyers to carry Bar Council identification cards with their membership numbers.

“That is why this could have happened and it is very disturbing.

“I hope the Bar Council will come up with a foolproof identification card for members, which they must carry with them at all times,” he added.

According to another lawyer, the bogus lawyer was not detected for so long because “when someone walks up to the place where lawyers normally sit in court, everyone would assume he is a lawyer, unless he is not properly dressed”.

“When the bogus lawyer’s case is mentioned, he will just stand up and say he represents the accused and even the magistrate or judge will assume he is a lawyer.

“Nobody will question his credentials or ask for his practising certificate unless a complaint is lodged. If an impostor is cool and knows some legal terms and procedures, he can practise as a lawyer until he is caught,” he said.