Former Lawyer Faces Charges for Unauthorized Legal Practice

In a significant legal development, a former lawyer has been charged with multiple offenses related to unauthorized legal representation. Paul Yong Wei Kuen, aged 58, is facing eight charges under the Legal Profession Act, stemming from his alleged actions on behalf of four clients between April and July 2018.

Details of the Charges

Yong is accused of acting as an advocate and solicitor without authorization, which includes filing court applications and signing various legal documents that were subsequently submitted to the court. These documents encompassed requests for jurisdictional leave, pre-trial conference dates, and other essential letters and defense cases.

Specifically, for one client, identified as Zu Kuimu in the charge sheets, Yong is alleged to have represented him on five separate occasions. The documents do not clarify the reason for Yong’s unauthorized status at that time.

Court Proceedings

During the initial court appearance, Yong did not have legal representation. The prosecution requested an adjournment to allow for further investigations into potential additional charges. Previously, Yong held the position of managing partner at Thames Law but was removed from the profession on April 1, 2020. It remains uncertain whether he has since regained his standing, as his name is absent from the directory of lawyers and law firms maintained by the Ministry of Law.

Disciplinary Actions

The Court of Three Judges, which serves as the highest disciplinary authority in the legal field, disbarred Yong following a hearing related to other allegations presented by a disciplinary tribunal. This ruling was detailed in a judgment released the same day. The charges originated from two distinct complaints.

One complaint involved an unlawful moneylending operation where Yong allegedly solicited a former client to provide a cash advance to a friend for a supposed investment opportunity. This friend turned out to be an undischarged bankrupt, with significant funds unaccounted for. The judges concluded that Yong likely misappropriated almost S$20,000 for personal gain. They remarked, “Given the blatant and pervasive dishonesty practised, the unmistakable picture that emerges is that the respondent is unfit to continue as a member of the legal profession.”

Further Allegations

The second complaint revolved around improper handling of client funds, as a firm mistakenly deposited money into an office account instead of the required client account. Yong also failed to produce a draft affidavit despite repeated requests and did not return the deposited funds.

Although Yong did not attend the disciplinary tribunal, he later informed the Court of Three Judges that he was unaware of the proceedings against him. His attempt to request an adjournment to seek legal representation was rejected by the court, which deemed it as “made in bad faith.”

Next Steps

Yong’s case is scheduled for another hearing on January 23 in the State Courts. If found guilty of practicing law without proper authority, he could face a fine of up to S$25,000 (approximately US$19,500) or a six-month prison sentence, or potentially both.