Lawyer Lim Tean fined S$30,000 over client money breach, court rejects bid to strike him off

On the second charge, which Lim did not seriously challenge, the court was satisfied it was made out beyond a reasonable doubt.

Chief Justice Menon said it was clear that the S$30,000 received was client money, which is governed by the LPSAR.

He added that Lim did not dispute that he had failed to deposit the cheque into Carson Law Chambers’ client account.

Lim had argued that his failure to pay the cheque into a client account was from an oversight as he was unfamiliar with requirements that came with personal injury work. He added that his firm did not have a client account.

But Chief Justice Menon said this was not a defence.

“Ignorance of the requirements imposed by LPSAR is not an excuse for breaching them. If anything, it aggravates the breach because it is such a fundamental requirement applicable to all solicitors,” Chief Justice Menon said.

“Indeed, the respondent’s purported ignorance and his non-compliance with the LPSAR bring dishonour to him in his profession.”

The Court of Three Judges felt that a financial penalty was appropriate given there was no dishonesty.

“The respondent was not dishonest – he had deposited the cheque into Carson Law Chambers’ office account because he believed that he was still engaged to represent Mr Suresh and was acting in accordance with Mr Suresh’s instructions, though even this would not have justified his actions since at least part of the money, even on this basis, constituted client money which was to be paid to Mr Suresh,” Chief Justice Menon said.

The court decided on the amount of S$30,000 after considering the lack of mitigating factors and several aggravating factors that warranted a heavier fine.

Lim’s claimed oversight for not paying the cheque into a client account was considered an aggravating factor.

“In our judgment, the respondent’s attitude to the serious responsibility on solicitors to manage and handle client moneys in accordance with the applicable rules reflects a severe lack of even basic diligence.

“It suggests a lack of interest in the high calling of solicitors who by virtue of their office are allowed to receive and hold client monies. The respondent’s cavalier attitude towards these obligations is most regrettable,” said Chief Justice Menon.

Moreover, Lim should have clarified who or which firm was acting for Mr Suresh, notwithstanding Lim’s claim of “bad blood” between himself and Mr Joseph Chen, Chief Justice Menon said.

Lawyers should conduct themselves professionally whatever their personal animosities, the Chief Justice added.

Another factor the court took into consideration was Lim’s standing as a senior practitioner with more than 25 years of experience at the material time.

“It is well-established that the more senior an advocate and solicitor, the more damage he does to the standing of the legal profession by virtue of his misconduct,” said Chief Justice Menon.

Lim is to pay the penalty within 14 days of the judgment and costs of S$12,000.