Update 31 Jul 2023: July 31 court date set for MP Christopher de Souza’s professional disciplinary case
In 2022, Mr Christopher de Souza was found guilty of professional misconduct by a disciplinary tribunal. PHOTO: GOV.SG
Lawyer and People’s Action Party MP Christopher de Souza will face the Court of Three Judges next Monday in a hearing to decide the final outcome of professional disciplinary proceedings brought against him.
The court, which is the highest disciplinary body for the legal profession, has the power to disbar, suspend or fine a lawyer who is guilty of professional misconduct. The court can also clear a lawyer of such charges.
In 2022, Mr de Souza, who is the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and an MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, was found guilty of a misconduct charge by an independent disciplinary tribunal.
Lawyer and MP Christopher de Souza guilty of professional misconduct
Christopher de Souza, deputy speaker of Parliament and MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. (PHOTO: Christopher de Souza/Facebook)
Deputy speaker of Parliament Christopher de Souza, a lawyer by profession, has been found guilty of professional misconduct by a disciplinary tribunal.
The Straits Times reported on Tuesday (6 December) that the Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC was found guilty of not making full and frank disclosure to the court when he was aware that his client, Amber Compounding Pharmacy and Amber Laboratories, had breached the conditions of a search order. The tribunal found that de Souza, 46, had instead helped his client prepare and file an affidavit which did not exhibit certain documents that would have revealed the client had breached conditions.
According to The Straits Times, the case involved Amber obtaining several documents through a search order in 2018. The company used some of these documents to make reports to investigative agencies, and this breached its undertaking not to use them without further order. According to the report, an internal email showed de Souza was aware of Amber's breaches even before his firm Lee & Lee took over the suit. Despite knowing this, he helped Amber representative Samuel Sudesh Thaddaeus file an affidavit on 28 January 2019 that did not reveal the breaches.
Lawyer and MP Christopher de Souza found guilty of professional misconduct, denies charge
The tribunal found there was cause of sufficient gravity for Mr Christopher de Souza to face disciplinary sanction before the Court of Three Judges. PHOTO: GOV.SG
Mr de Souza, who is the current Deputy Speaker of Parliament and an MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, was found guilty of a charge relating to his conduct while he was acting for his clients, Amber Compounding Pharmacy and Amber Laboratories. The tribunal found that Mr de Souza had not made full and frank disclosure to the court when he was aware that his client had breached the conditions of a search order. In fact, he helped his client prepare and file an affidavit that did not exhibit certain documents which would have revealed that Amber had breached its undertaking.
The case centred on Amber obtaining certain documents through a search order in 2018. Amber filed a High Court suit on Feb 14, 2018, against its former employee and the new company she had set up for allegedly stealing its trade secrets.
PAP MP Christopher de Souza found guilty of professional misconduct by disciplinary tribunal
Mr Christopher de Souza, a lawyer in Lee & Lee, has been found guilty of professional misconduct by a disciplinary tribunal.
Mr de Souza, who is also the current deputy speaker of Parliament and People’s Action Party Member of Parliament for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC, was found guilty of one out of five charges put against him by the Singapore Law Society (LawSoc). This is related to his conduct while he was acting for his clients, Amber Compounding Pharmacy and Amber Laboratories, in a High Court suit filed in 2018.
Based on the report by the two-member tribunal, which comprised Senior Counsel N. Sreenivasan and Mr Pradeep Pillai, Mr de Souza had not made full and frank disclosure to the court when he was aware that his client had breached the conditions of a search order. Instead, he helped his client, Mr Samuel Sudesh Thaddaeus, prepare and file an affidavit in January 2019 that did not exhibit certain documents which would have revealed that Amber had breached its undertaking.
MP Christopher de Souza found guilty of professional misconduct over clients' suppression of evidence
A disciplinary tribunal has found Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher de Souza guilty of professional misconduct over his clients' suppression of evidence.
De Souza, a lawyer, is the current deputy speaker of Parliament and People’s Action Party (PAP) MP for Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency (GRC). He was found guilty in relation to his conduct while acting for his clients, Amber Compounding Pharmacy and Amber Laboratories, reported The Straits Times (ST).
The tribunal found that de Souza was made aware that his client had breached the conditions of a search order, but did not make full and frank disclosure of this to the court upon finding this out. He was found to have helped his client prepare and file an affidavit that did not contain documents which would have disclosed the clients' breach.
While some show support, others say ‘step down’ after MP Christopher de Souza found guilty of professional misconduct
The charge against Mr de Souza, a lawyer by profession, was related to dealings with his clients, Amber Compounding Pharmacy and Amber Laboratories. It was determined by the tribunal that the MP had failed to make “a full and frank disclosure to the court when he was aware that his client had breached the conditions of a search order,” reported The Straits Times on Tuesday. Four of the five charges brought against him were dismissed.
In later news, the ruling People’s Action Party told CNA that the MP informed the party that he denies any wrongdoing. “He will argue his case on the one charge, on appeal before the Court of Three Judges,” PAP said, adding “We will await the verdict of the Court of Three Judges, and determine the course of action necessary after the verdict.” Reactions from netizens to the news concerning Mr Christopher de Souza have been mixed, with some expressing support for the MP.
