The leader of the Malaysian Bar has issued a strong statement against some accidental professionals ‘ behavior for the second time in two weeks, warning that it will take legal action against those who have “breached the faith bestowed upon them by the public.”  ,
In a statement released on Friday ( Aug 16 ), Mr. Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said,” We condemn such actions in the strongest and most unequivocal terms.” He made reference to the Malaysian Bar’s position against some of its members ‘ dishonest and fraudulent behavior.
The Malaysian Bar is a professional figure charged with overseeing the legal system in Malaysia.  ,
A total of 33 criminal breach of trust ( CBT ) cases involving attorneys were reported nationwide last year, according to Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID ) director Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf, who made the statement on August 13.  ,
These cases resulted in costs of over RM33 million ( US$ 7.4 million ).
Additionally, Mr. Ramli warned that there are likely to be more legal cases involving these offences, with losses totaling over RM20 million recorded so far this year.  ,
In 2022, 29 Psychotherapy cases involving attorneys were recorded equivalent to loss of RM13 million, Bernama reported.  ,
But, Mr. Ezri claimed in his speech from Friday that there appears to be an “alarming craze” that has unfairly diminished the importance of doctors in culture.  ,
The focus is now more on the misbehavior of a few, which, he said, “unfortunately casts a shadow on the whole profession,” rather than the major contributions that lawyers make to society.  ,
Mr. Ezri warned that lawyers across Malaysia are facing unprecedented challenges due to the current economic environment and the growing political pressures on the job.
” In addition, the rising need for savings and the weakening of legal services only add to the challenges that lawyers are currently facing.  ,
This pattern threatens the conservation of constitutional practices, especially smaller firms and only practitioners, and undermines the worth of the important job we do. Legitimate companies are not a product that can be bargained, they are important services that require specialised awareness, knowledge, and a commitment to fairness, “he said.  ,
According to records, Mr. Ezri noted that there were 33 cases that the police investigated last year, including 14 cases involving individuals who were n’t members of the Malaysian Bar, as well as eight cases in which the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board ( ASDB) had issued orders to its members.  ,
According to its site, the ASDB handles complaints of specialized misconduct filed by an advocate, attorney, student, or unusual attorney licensed under Section 40J of the Legal Profession Act of 1976.  ,
Mr. Ezri added that the Bar Council, which oversees the interests of the Malaysian Bar and performs its duties, has filed six police reports against those who use fake documents or defraude to carry out dishonest and deceptive business since 2023.
He also urged the general public to complain to the ASDB if they thought the lawyer and activist had engaged in misconduct.
Unscrupulous lawyers stow a shack in the legal system, and their inaction undermines the integrity of the many honorable and attentive members who uphold the highest standards of our profession, asserted Mr. Ezri.  ,
The Malaysian Bar has made a number of claims over the years expressing its concern for users ‘ dishonesty or fraudulent behavior.  ,
Two lawyers claimed they were being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission ( MACC ) in their capacity as lawyers for a building’s management committee in a strata management case, according to a report released by news website Free Malaysia Today in June.
Mr. Ezri had previously stated that while they were strong against unscrupulous practices and doctors ‘ dishonest behavior, he had also cautioned all enforcement systems, including the MACC, to regard lawful professional privilege and the right to legal representation.  ,
Mr. Ezri also disclosed to FMT that the Malaysian Bar had introduced Elevate, a fresh risk management tool, to address the issue of law firms stealing money from trust accounts.
The CCID producer, Mr. Ramli, was quoted by Bernama as saying in May that the government had received 22 studies of scenarios involving law firms, with losses totaling RM19 million.
After failing to move the property rights to the new consumer, authorities in Selangor had also arrested a prosecutor who had received RM2.7 million for the purchase of a plot of land in the city in November.