Indian-Origin Singapore Lawyer Suspended for Falsely Attesting Property Documents

The Law Society of Singapore initially argued for a 30 months’ suspension for Kasturibai, who was representing two siblings as the registered owners of a condominium unit

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

In a recent development, Kasturibai Manickam, an Indian-origin lawyer in Singapore with over 25 years of experience, has been handed a one-year suspension for falsely attesting property-related documents. The Law Society of Singapore initially argued for a 30 months’ suspension for Kasturibai, who was representing two siblings as the registered owners of a condominium unit, Straight Times reported.

The Court of Three Judges, led by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, characterized the incident as a “grave error of judgement” rather than a character flaw. While there was no dispute that the intended signatories had indeed signed the documents, Chief Justice Menon highlighted Kasturibai’s decision to falsely attest, emphasizing it as a significant mistake based on her personal acquaintance with the parties involved.

• The Court of Three Judges decided on a one-year suspension, allowing it to take effect on March 7, 2024

• This timeline provides Kasturibai with an opportunity to find another lawyer to take over her ongoing legal matters

• The court emphasized that the suspension was a consequence of a serious lapse in judgement rather than inherent moral shortcomings

The case revolves around the sale of a property in September 2020 by siblings Santha Devi V Puthenveetil Kesava Pillay and Raman Puthenveetil Kesava Pillay. Kasturibai, who worked for East Asia Law Corporation, the firm representing the siblings, prepared six transaction documents, all signed by Santha Devi. Between September 7, 2020, and November 5, 2020, Kasturibai falsely signed as a witness to Santha Devi’s signature, despite not being present during the signing.

The documents, including a transfer instrument, were sent to the law firm representing the purchasers. Following the transaction, Santha Devi lodged a complaint with the Law Society of Singapore, leading to the appointment of a disciplinary tribunal in May 2022 to investigate the matter formally.

The Court of Three Judges decided on a one-year suspension, allowing it to take effect on March 7, 2024. This timeline provides Kasturibai with an opportunity to find another lawyer to take over her ongoing legal matters. The court emphasized that the suspension was a consequence of a serious lapse in judgement rather than inherent moral shortcomings.

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