Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Recusal of counsel

Legal area

Court

1 Apr 2024

PEMPETISYEN Radha Krishnan A/l Rajoo Vijaya Letchumy A/p Supacandar

Citation

BA-33-702-09/2023 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

BA-33-702-09/2023 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

Counsel for the petitioner had personally obtained sensitive confidential information from the unrepresented respondent about matters central to the divorce; that possession created an embarrassment under Rule 3(b)(i) and a real risk/appearance of unfairness such that a fair‑minded reasonable member of the public would require removal; accordingly the court ordered counsel to withdraw and allowed the recusal application.
19 Nov 2023

PRIMA SIERRA HOLIDAYS SDN BHD 1. ) KELAB BOLASEPAK JOHOR DARUL TA'ZIM 2. ) MAJLIS SUKAN NEGERI JOHOR (MSNJ) 3. ) MAJLIS PERBANDARAN KULAI (MPK) 4. ) Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru

Citation

JA-22NCvC-42-03/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

JA-22NCvC-42-03/2021 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The 1st Defendant failed to prove a strong, cogent case that the Plaintiff’s solicitors were material witnesses or that their participation posed a conflict requiring recusal. The alleged meeting and the ex‑parte injunction were not material to the central issue of whether the 1st Defendant owed the Plaintiff money; other witnesses could testify on the meeting and the solicitors were not on any witness lists. Therefore the recusal application was properly dismissed.
4 Jul 2023

1. ) LOW HUEI YING 2. ) ERNEST MORGAN FERNAND LOW MATHY menyaman melalui ibunya dan next of friend Low Huei Ying Andrew Gregory Sewell (Beramal Di Bawah Nama Dan Gaya Tetuan Andrew Sewell) PIHAK KETIGA 1. ) MALAYAN BANKING BERHAD 2. ) MAYBA

Citation

WA-22NCvC-257-05/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-22NCvC-257-05/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The recusal application was dismissed because the Defendant failed to satisfy the onus of proving a conflict, possession of relevant confidential information, or a strong case that would justify disqualification; allegations were speculative, lacked clear particulars and cogent evidence, did not demonstrate compromise of solicitors' independence or public perception of unfairness, and thus recusal was not warranted.
14 Mar 2023

PEMPETISYEN KASTURI NAMBIAR A/P KRISHNAN STEVEN A/L SEBASTIAN PIHAK KETIGA DICADANGKAN SIVASANKAR A/L MOHANADASS

Citation

WA-33-258-05/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-33-258-05/2022 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The Court found an existing solicitor-client relationship and possession by counsel of confidential information directly relevant to the divorce petition, and that counsel was a potential witness on material disputed facts; applying the objective test for appearance of conflict and the Legal Profession (Practice & Etiquette) Rules, the firm was disqualified from representing the Respondent to protect the administration of justice; the application was allowed with costs.
20 Nov 2020

NG YEE HONG MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF ACCOUNTANTS

Citation

W-02(IM)-2232-12/2019 (Mahkamah Rayuan)
Court

IM
Case number

W-02(IM)-2232-12/2019 (Mahkamah Rayuan)

Court allowed appeal and held that STSP must be recused from acting for MIA in the judicial review because their prior representation of the Investigation Committee created a real appearance of conflict of interest and potential unfairness; affidavits denying actual interference did not dispel the reasonable perception of conflict; the public interest in perceived fairness prevailed over counsel choice.
28 Nov 2019

NG YEE HONG 1. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE, MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF ACCOUNTANTS 2. MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF ACCOUNTANTS

Citation

WA-25-446-10/2019 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

WA-25-446-10/2019 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

Applicant failed to establish the requisite strong evidential case of actual or apparent conflict; affidavit evidence from MIA executive director established independence and separation of functions between IC, DC, DAB and Council and that STSP takes instructions only from IC, therefore disqualification was unwarranted and the recusal application was dismissed.

Malaysia Case Law

PEMPETISYEN Radha Krishnan A/l Rajoo Vijaya Letchumy A/p Supacandar

PRIMA SIERRA HOLIDAYS SDN BHD 1. ) KELAB BOLASEPAK JOHOR DARUL TA'ZIM 2. ) MAJLIS SUKAN NEGERI JOHOR (MSNJ) 3. ) MAJLIS PERBANDARAN KULAI (MPK) 4. ) Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru

1. ) LOW HUEI YING 2. ) ERNEST MORGAN FERNAND LOW MATHY menyaman melalui ibunya dan next of friend Low Huei Ying Andrew Gregory Sewell (Beramal Di Bawah Nama Dan Gaya Tetuan Andrew Sewell) PIHAK KETIGA 1. ) MALAYAN BANKING BERHAD 2. ) MAYBA

PEMPETISYEN KASTURI NAMBIAR A/P KRISHNAN STEVEN A/L SEBASTIAN PIHAK KETIGA DICADANGKAN SIVASANKAR A/L MOHANADASS

NG YEE HONG MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF ACCOUNTANTS

NG YEE HONG 1. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE, MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF ACCOUNTANTS 2. MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF ACCOUNTANTS