Sri Ram cannot represent counsel in 1MDB suits, lawyer tells AG, Bar

 

Manjeet Singh Dhillon (left) says Gopal Sri Ram should not be representing a lawyer who is being sued by 1MDB in a civil suit over his alleged role in the scandal.

PETALING JAYA: A senior lawyer has written to the attorney-general (AG) and the Malaysian Bar president to complain that prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram could be in conflict of interest by him appearing for a counsel who is being sued by 1MDB.

Manjeet Singh Dhillon said he sent an email last month to Idrus Harun and AG Kalidas to intervene in the matter.

“I believe you are the best persons to step in over what is a distressing matter of ethical standards,” Manjeet said in the email sighted by FMT.

Last month, 1MDB filed several suits against two foreign financial institutions and 25 individuals.

One of the suits is against Wong & Partners and its partner Brian Chia for US$1 billion and payment of legal fees amounting to RM664,821.21 for their alleged role in the fraud. Chia has since appointed Sri Ram to represent him in the suit.

Sri Ram is the ad hoc prosecutor and leads the prosecution in the trial of former prime minister Najib Razak, who is facing 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited in his AmBank accounts.

Chia, a material prosecution witness, has yet to give evidence in the trial.

Manjeet said Sri Ram, whose ability and talent he had no reason to question, has been privy to an amazing amount of material in his involvement in closely related matters for the prosecution.

“Regrettably this is a situation where neither the cab rank rule of being a barrister arises nor to the right of a counsel of choice,” said Manjeet who was once the Bar president.

Manjeet said he was of the opinion that the AG and the Malaysian Bar must therefore remove Sri Ram as counsel for Chia in the civil suits.

“A message has to be sent, more so when senior members of the Bar are involved,” he said.

FMT has contacted Idrus for his response.

Meanwhile, Sri Ram said there was no conflict of interest in him defending Chia in the civil suit.

“I am not acting against the interest of the prosecution. I am entitled to represent Chia in the civil case,” he said.

Kalidas said at the moment the Bar Council could not act as it was not privy to details of the different suits.

“The line of conflict is unclear. If and when more details are revealed the council may be in a better position to make an assessment and decide.

“If we find then that there is a situation of conflict we will take appropriate action,” he added. - FMT