Singapore legislation

Clause 16

of Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill

Clause 16

Amendment of section 87

Section 87 of the principal Act is amended —

(a)

by deleting the words “inquire into and investigate the matter and report to the Council on the matter” at the end of subsection (1) thereof and substituting therefor the following: —“within two weeks commence its inquiry into the matter and report its findings to the Council as expeditiously as may be reasonably expected of it but in any event not later than two months after the commencement of such inquiry”;

(b)

by deleting the word “investigation” wherever it appears in subsections (3) and (4) thereof and substituting therefor in each case the word “inquiry”;

(c)

by deleting the words “Before any inquiry or investigation begins” in the first line of subsection (5) thereof and substituting therefor the words “Before the Inquiry Committee commences its hearing”;

(d)

by deleting the words “setting out any or any further particulars that may be necessary to disclose the reason for the inquiry or investigation and” in the first to the fourth lines of paragraph (a)(ii) of subsection (5) thereof;

(e)

by deleting subsection (6) thereof and substituting therefor the following: —“(6) The report of the Inquiry Committee shall, inter alia, deal with the question of the necessity or otherwise of a formal investigation by a Disciplinary Committee and, if in the view of the Inquiry Committee no formal investigation by a Disciplinary Committee is required, the Inquiry Committee shall recommend to the Council —

(a)

a penalty sufficient and appropriate to the misconduct committed; or

(b)

the dismissal of the complaint.”; and

(f)

by deleting the marginal note thereto and substituting therefor the word “Inquiry.”.