Lawyer gets life-time ban for 'scandalising the courts'

• QX179R

  25 Jul 11, 11:51

  The Court of Three Judges on Monday barred former Singaporean Gopalan Nair from ever practising law in Singapore.

  Justices Tan Lee Meng, Tay Yong Kwang and Lee Seiu Kin struck him off the roll following an application by the Law Society that Mr Nair, 60, face disciplinary action for scandalising the courts and conduct not befitting a lawyer.

  The society reached this conclusion last year after a disciplinary tribunal appointed by the Chief Justice convicted him on five counts.

  Mr Nair, now an American citizen who lives in California, was not present even though he had been invited to defend himself. He was sentenced to three months' jail in 2008 for contempt of court in remarks on his blog post while on a visit here.

  But upon his return to the United States, he announced that he was defying an undertaking given to the court to remove posts which had impugned the integrity of High Court judges.

  A former Workers' Party candidate, he emigrated in 1991 and became a US citizen in 2004. Although he stopped practising here, he has remained on the rolls. He had also, in 1992, been suspended from practising law for two years for remarks about former attorney-general Tan Boon Teik.

  -- ST

• mancha

  25 Jul 11, 11:57

  This is as good as throwing a turd at him from Changi Point in the direction of California.

  As if he cares.

• charlize

  25 Jul 11, 21:05

  Originally posted by mancha:

  This is as good as throwing a turd at him from Changi Point in the direction of California.

  As if he cares.

  Yeah, think he bo chap.

• alize

  25 Jul 11, 21:10

  A stupid move of the government that only validates his cause.

  Probably they have thought it through and believe this outweighs having local lawyers becoming more vocal.

  The ban will hardly be publicized after all. Even if Nair publicizes it himself, it only serves to intimidate others.

• ^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~

  26 Jul 11, 09:05

  

  scandals...

• charlize

  26 Jul 11, 10:11

  This is like FI banning the clone 50 cents in sgforums last time.

   

  He just keeps coming back with more pictures.

• Rock^Star

  26 Jul 11, 10:47

  Gopalan Nair that no balls chap who dared LKY to arrest him which he did, then he apologised and fled back to America with his tail between his legs.