1. ) CHONG JOO TIAN 2. ) HARIKRISHNAN A/L KANAPATHY 3. ) NG GOON FOON (Kesemuanya didakwa sebagai ahli-ahli Jawatankausa Tatatertib Aduan No. DC/15/0424) 4. ) JAWATANKUASA TATATERTIB PEGUAM-PEGUAM HOW CHEE HONG

1. ) CHONG JOO TIAN 2. ) HARIKRISHNAN A/L KANAPATHY 3. ) NG GOON FOON (Kesemuanya didakwa sebagai ahli-ahli Jawatankausa Tatatertib Aduan No. DC/15/0424) 4. ) JAWATANKUASA TATATERTIB PEGUAM-PEGUAM HOW CHEE HONG

The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, holding the Disciplinary Committee had jurisdiction to order production of the documents under s103B LPA 1976 and the documents were either not privileged or fell within the fraud/crime exception to s126 Evidence Act 1950; moreover the plaintiff failed to comply with the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
W-02(A)-583-03/2019 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Parties
Appellant: CHONG JOO TIAN; Appellant: HARIKRISHNAN A/L KANAPATHY; Appellant: NG GOON FOON; Appellant: ADVOCATES & SOLICITORS DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE; Respondent: HOW CHEE HONG
Court
A
Jurisdiction
Malaysia
Judgment Date
4 November 2022
Case Number
W-02(A)-583-03/2019 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Procedural Posture
Appeal to Court of Appeal From High Court Judgment on Originating Summons / Final Judgment on Appeal
Outcome
Appeal allowed; High Court decision set aside; no order as to costs
Legal Topics
Solicitor Client Privilege, Disclosure of Documents, Disciplinary Committee Powers, Exhaustion of Internal Remedies, Jurisdiction, Mode of Commencement (originating Summons V Judicial Review)
Legal Profession Evidence Civil Procedure Administrative Law Professional Discipline Solicitor Client Privilege Disclosure of Documents Disciplinary Committee Powers +3 more

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Parties

CHONG JOO TIAN

Appellant

HARIKRISHNAN A/L KANAPATHY

Appellant

NG GOON FOON

Appellant

ADVOCATES & SOLICITORS DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Appellant

HOW CHEE HONG

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Appeal to Court of Appeal From High Court Judgment on Originating Summons / Final Judgment on Appeal

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Originating Summons was an abuse of process or required to be brought by judicial review under Order 53
  2. 2 Whether documents ordered by the Disciplinary Committee are protected by solicitor-client privilege under s126 Evidence Act 1950
  3. 3 Whether the fraud/crime exception to privilege applies to the documents

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, holding the Disciplinary Committee had jurisdiction to order production of the documents under s103B LPA 1976 and the documents were either not privileged or fell within the fraud/crime exception to s126 Evidence Act 1950; moreover the plaintiff failed to comply with the mandatory internal remedy under s103EA(1) LPA 1976, warranting reversal of the High Court decision.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; High Court decision set aside; no order as to costs

Orders

  • Allow Defendants/Appellants' appeal
  • Set aside the High Court judgment dated 22.2.2019