JUDGMENT

McElwaine (SS) CJ:

The judgment of the Court consisting of McElwaine CJ, Aitken A-G JA, and Manning J was delivered by the Chief Justice and the facts and argument sufficiently appear therein.

This is an application made on behalf of a Disciplinary Committee calling upon the Respondent, an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court, to show cause why he should not be struck off the Rolls, suspended from practice or otherwise dealt with.

The facts of the case are simple. The Respondent did not keep a separate client's account with a Bank as required by the Rules regulating the Practice and Etiquette of the Singapore Bar. These rules were made under s. 31(1)(a) of the Advocates and Solicitors Ordinance and have the force of law.

On 3 April 1940 the Respondent received a cheque for $1,960 on behalf of a client, the money representing a legacy to which the client was entitled.

On the same day the Respondent paid this cheque into his own Bank account.

Immediately before this cheque was paid in this account appears to have been in credit to the extent of $12.72. On the same day after the cheque was paid in the account was debited with three cheques drawn by the Respondent