KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — The Bar Council has confirmed that Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate for the Permatang Pasir by-election, Rohaizat Othman, was found guilty of misconduct last year and struck off the rolls.
In a statement today, Bar Council secretary George Varughese said the Advocates and Solicitors Displinary Board disbarred Rohaizat on March 7, 2008.
“The Disciplinary Board’s decision arose from an investigation into the complaint lodged against Rohaizat Othman by the purchaser of a piece of real property.
“According to the complaint, Rohaizat Othman failed to refund almost RM 161,000 to the complainant after the transaction was aborted,” said Varughese.
He said Rohaizat had also appealed to the High Court against the decision of the disciplinary board. The appeal was dismissed by the High Court last Wednesday.
Varughese added that the finding of misconduct was personal to Rohaizat as the disciplinary board would not hold a lawyer liable for the actions of his partners.
The Bar Council’s statement suggests that BN leaders may have been misinformed about his status.
Penang Umno chief Datuk Zahid Hamidi had claimed yesterday that it was Rohaizat’s partner who had taken off with the client’s money.
Deputy Umno president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also accused the opposition of character assassination and claimed Rohaizat was not “legally wrong.”
But the Bar Council has now made it clear that Rohaizat was personally found guilty of misconduct.
The revelation will definitely provide fodder for Pakatan Rakyat’s campaign as they take on a resurgent Umno in the by-election.
Comments (35)
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written by longjaafar, August 18, 2009
written by longjaafar, August 18, 2009
I wonder how the election commission is going to get out of this. By now, they would be waiting for instructions for their boss, which is UMNO.
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written by sapu, August 18, 2009
written by sapu, August 18, 2009
BN must really be short of clean candidates or they are so easily conned. Take your pick.
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written by lengcai, August 18, 2009
written by lengcai, August 18, 2009
So Muhyiddin and Zahid either you both are liars or you all been mislead by Rohaizat, for this time you all are the assisting true traitors to all the voters of P. Pasir.
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written by garang, August 18, 2009
written by garang, August 18, 2009
If NOT "legally wrong" - mere technicalities only
The question is - is he "Morally Wrong" ?
The question is - is he "Morally Wrong" ?
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written by Loh Yeow Boo - Penang, August 18, 2009
written by Loh Yeow Boo - Penang, August 18, 2009
I don't understand why BN still picked him as a candidate. It is as if there are no other qualified candidates available or maybe it is....DOn't be surprised he would be awarded a Datuk in the mear future even with the conviction.
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written by Judge, August 18, 2009
written by Judge, August 18, 2009
With UMNO around, a black cat can turn into white what.
They will later pay all his debts, clear his name as white as baby, and to pump in multi-billion and to win this seat.
We all know, only MACC @ UMNO does not know.
They will later pay all his debts, clear his name as white as baby, and to pump in multi-billion and to win this seat.
We all know, only MACC @ UMNO does not know.
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written by Aries, August 18, 2009
written by Aries, August 18, 2009
The disbarred lawyer should be disqualified immediately.
And, of course, PAS candidate be given a walkover.
No contest, PR win by default.
And, of course, PAS candidate be given a walkover.
No contest, PR win by default.
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written by Durian Besar, August 18, 2009
written by Durian Besar, August 18, 2009
Thief and Bandit Party
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Not surprised, UMNO are made up of thieves and bandits.
When he was a lawyer he defalcated clients' money
If he is elected, he will be sucking rakyats' blood and sweat money.
This is UMNO!
The party of thieves and bandits.
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Not surprised, UMNO are made up of thieves and bandits.
When he was a lawyer he defalcated clients' money
If he is elected, he will be sucking rakyats' blood and sweat money.
This is UMNO!
The party of thieves and bandits.
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written by susie, August 18, 2009
written by susie, August 18, 2009
Kekekek...lucu nya... Mana boleh percaya orang ini? I say ini memanglah boleh land. Tak check candidate background. Do homework first la... tapi nak banyak kerja go to the ground to explain and give all the excuses for this unscrupulous candidate. .. For what? Is this candidate so important? So worth it? Tak ada ke orang lain? Sudah tipu, nak tipu lagi. Orang UMNO pun dia nak tipu. Besar nya skeleton dalam almari masih tak nampak ke? Adakah birds of a kind flock together?
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written by Observer, August 18, 2009
written by Observer, August 18, 2009
With Bar Council's clarification on disqualification of Rohaizaat out, voters now know which side is lying and how to make the right decision.
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written by Andy , August 18, 2009
written by Andy , August 18, 2009
Is UMNO short of good candidate or UMNO national leaders being tricked into believe Rohaizat is the best candidate?
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written by macam macam, August 18, 2009
written by macam macam, August 18, 2009
The BN candidate fella is really despicable. If you cannot trust him with money as a lawyer, how can you trust him with the taxpayers money as a politician. Mati loh. He will makan all.
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written by Steven Ong, August 18, 2009
written by Steven Ong, August 18, 2009
This is the biggest joke ever. The foolishness of Umno. Maybe a divine intervention? How else would Umno chose a tainted candidate for this election if it is not a divine intervention? Do you think Umno is so foolish as to chose a tainted candidate or is it that they have no one else better than a this tainted unclean fellow? Too bad but all Malaysians better prepare for the coming days ahead - The Day Of The Lord. If you do not understand please go and search the internet.
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written by Capt Rogue, August 18, 2009
written by Capt Rogue, August 18, 2009
We are all corrupt.. what's new?? Vote for me.. I'll corrupt everyone.. corruption pays, ain't it, mate??
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written by alenac, August 18, 2009
written by alenac, August 18, 2009
Satu lagi rekod BN. Berapa kali dah kita dah tengok wang dibagi untuk memancing undi dari KT ke Manek Urai. Sekarang ni calun pun ada rekod lesap duit. Woi Ketepikan rakyat 1kan Kroni.
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written by Krishna, August 18, 2009
written by Krishna, August 18, 2009
He has all the qualification necessary to be a thieving UMNOputra. His choosing as candidate was by design.
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written by wayan, August 18, 2009
written by wayan, August 18, 2009
UMNO Muhyiddin and Zaidi deserve whats coming to them. Sweet retribution for all that they have been saying to the generally peace loving fellow Malaysians of the Malay race. At least we will hear less racial taunts from these fellows as they sit holding their heads in their hands wondering what to with the candidate. Here's the news: You cant do anything. UMNO is sunk.
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written by Aries, August 18, 2009
written by Aries, August 18, 2009
Isn't the failure to return money belonging to a client a form of CBT?
This is a clear case where the money belonging someone else has been proven to have been misappropriated, if the Bar Council's contention holds.
And, only a serious offence that breaks the rules of the Council would call for such drastic action as disbarment, or the revocation of the licence to practise law in the country.
What are the authorities, such as police, MACC, etc., etc., waiting for?
Why was swift action taken against certain parties when only an alleged scent, which is not even detected, of misappropriation of whatever funds is suspected?
Why does it have to work this way, always? Somebody is giving directions and instructions? Why is it the rakyat always perceive that things are working this way?
The rakyat cannot be biased always, can they? Something is certainly amiss because the trend is consistently and persistently against the wishes and views of the rakyat.
This is a clear case where the money belonging someone else has been proven to have been misappropriated, if the Bar Council's contention holds.
And, only a serious offence that breaks the rules of the Council would call for such drastic action as disbarment, or the revocation of the licence to practise law in the country.
What are the authorities, such as police, MACC, etc., etc., waiting for?
Why was swift action taken against certain parties when only an alleged scent, which is not even detected, of misappropriation of whatever funds is suspected?
Why does it have to work this way, always? Somebody is giving directions and instructions? Why is it the rakyat always perceive that things are working this way?
The rakyat cannot be biased always, can they? Something is certainly amiss because the trend is consistently and persistently against the wishes and views of the rakyat.
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written by greateagle, August 19, 2009
written by greateagle, August 19, 2009
Ladies & Gentlemen,announcing another crooked candidate to fill in the blanks of past crooks.Get real my Malaysian brothers & sisters this is nothing to do with race but shoving crooks to us as lawmakers and telling us that there is nothing you can do about it.
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written by AA, August 19, 2009
written by AA, August 19, 2009
BN chose him on purpose. They already knew they're going to lose in this by-elections. Imagine suffering another lost. So now they can say, 'Oh, we didn't actually lose. It was due to the fact that our candidate was so tainted that we lost. Otherwise we could have won.' Saving face tactic.
For the next by-elections or general elections, BN can head to the prisons to select their candidates. Oh wait a minute, some of their candidates are already 'more terror' than the prisoners.
For the next by-elections or general elections, BN can head to the prisons to select their candidates. Oh wait a minute, some of their candidates are already 'more terror' than the prisoners.
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written by Pinkenba55, August 19, 2009
written by Pinkenba55, August 19, 2009
Itisabouttimethatwe punish crooks hiding under the cloaks of corrupted UMNO and its stooges and instrument of terrors. There must be hundreds of thousands of them.....some even wear uniforms.
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written by Pinkenba55, August 19, 2009
written by Pinkenba55, August 19, 2009
umno stupidly made itself a sweet honey pots for crooks who used to be lawyers, engineers, doctors, businessmen and all those who failed to become anything professional
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written by Pangait, August 19, 2009
written by Pangait, August 19, 2009
Good candidate for UMNO. This is the type to maintain UMNO characters.
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written by lek, August 19, 2009
written by lek, August 19, 2009
if he can makan RM 161,000 surely he will have a bigger appetite to makan RM 161 million of taxpayers mony
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written by sheik, August 19, 2009
written by sheik, August 19, 2009
What kind of Islamic law allows lawyers who have been convicted for CBT to continue to practice as Shari'ah lawyers? There is an inherent flaw here in this system. Don't you think?
When you steel it doesn't matter if you are Muslim or non-Muslim. You should go to jail or under Islamic law, be given the whip. It's shocking that the Shari'ah courts cannot understand this.
When you steel it doesn't matter if you are Muslim or non-Muslim. You should go to jail or under Islamic law, be given the whip. It's shocking that the Shari'ah courts cannot understand this.
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written by tomm.cruise, August 19, 2009
written by tomm.cruise, August 19, 2009
Why no CBT charge on him? because he is UMNO strong man?
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written by kajang ah fook, August 19, 2009
written by kajang ah fook, August 19, 2009
Is Umno made up of members who are samseng, mat rempits, crooks, bad lawyers and even murderers?
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written by Malaccan, August 19, 2009
written by Malaccan, August 19, 2009
I'm surprised our DPM being the 2nd most powerful guy can say it is not legally wrong. Please show me In what law or religion is this not wrong? Since when is stealing legal?
The only way I can interpret this is a standard for Malaysian & another standard for UMNO, how can we become 1Malaysia then???
I for 1 think Najib is pretty decent b4 TBH but if he were to keep silent on this then the current system we have should go the way of the dinosaur. Having a person come in for questioning in the early morning & choosing a person of this character, hmm what can I say this is a typical example of tidak apa attitude.
In this case, I am not proud to be a M'sian - sorry to say this with Merdeka around the corner. Just think down south, a politician with a lesser legally wrong issue would be kicked out before he can explain. How sad this can happen over here :-(
The only way I can interpret this is a standard for Malaysian & another standard for UMNO, how can we become 1Malaysia then???
I for 1 think Najib is pretty decent b4 TBH but if he were to keep silent on this then the current system we have should go the way of the dinosaur. Having a person come in for questioning in the early morning & choosing a person of this character, hmm what can I say this is a typical example of tidak apa attitude.
In this case, I am not proud to be a M'sian - sorry to say this with Merdeka around the corner. Just think down south, a politician with a lesser legally wrong issue would be kicked out before he can explain. How sad this can happen over here :-(
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Perhaps, the lure of power, $$$$ and more $$$$ overcast every basic principles of life and Islam too?
So now, all UMNO leaders who "disagreed" with the Bar Council may consider forming another Badan Loyar Beruk?