Hashim Yeop A Sani CJ (Malaya)

(delivering the judgment of the court): This was an appeal by Teoh Hooi Leong, an applicant under s 107 of the Legal Profession Act 1976 ('the Act') against the decision of the High Court refusing his application to have his name restored to the Roll of Advocates and Solicitors of the High Court, Malaya.

Under s 107 of the Act, the High Court, consisting of three judges, may if it thinks fair and reasonable so to do, restore to the roll the name of the advocate and solicitor which had been removed from or struck off the roll. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the High Court under this section has a right of appeal to this court.

The appellant was conferred the Degree of Bachelor of Laws (Hons) by the University of Singapore in 1966. He was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court Malaya on 27 June 1967 and was practising until October 1974. In 1974 he was charged with two counts of criminal breach of trust of $99,240 under s 409 of the Penal Code. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. However, on appeal, the sentence was reduced to three months' imprisonment and a fine of $2,000. He