Fun Huay Yew
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
The respondent, a sole proprietor solicitor, held $650,000 as stakeholder for Toshiba pending Malaysian litigation. After settlement, he wilfully failed to pay the $635,000 balance due, prevaricated, then feigned payment with a post-dated cheque falsely claimed to be backed by a maturing fixed deposit. The cheque was dishonoured and he absconded with the money, disappearing from his office and home. The Disciplinary Committee found grossly improper conduct (first charge) and fraudulent conduct (second charge) under s 83(2)(b). The High Court expressly found the respondent guilty of deception and dishonesty, and unanimously ordered he be struck off the roll, with costs awarded to the Law Society. The respondent was absent throughout.
Duties found breached:
Aggravating factors:
- Feigned payment using a bogus post-dated cheque to deceive client
- Threatened to sue the client for demanding immediate payment
- Absconded with the client's money and disappeared
- Used $15,000 of the stakeholder money to pay another party but failed to pay client
- Did not appear before the Disciplinary Committee or the court, showed no remorse or explanation