BN’s Pandan hopeful Gary Lim hit by professional misconduct, fraud allegations
Debra Chong, TMI
Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Pandan candidate Gary Lim is likely to face a disciplinary hearing of the Malaysian Bar to answer allegations of professional misconduct and fraud, in a development that will cloud the lawyer’s chances in the May 5 polls.
The Malaysian Insider understands a hearing before the disciplinary committee of the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (ASDB) is likely after the Bar received complaints of legal misrepresentation and potential fraud against the 38-year-old old Lim, who was earlier this week named as the coalition’s man for the Pandan parliamentary seat.
It is understood the complaint involves allegations of misrepresentation involving a major law firm here.
He is also alleged to have breached a condition of his legal practise certificate.
“He’s likely to face a hearing of the disciplinary committee,” a source with the Bar Council said, on condition of anonymity.
The ASDB is a body set up by law to investigate professional misconduct.
Lim denied knowledge of any investigation over professional misconduct allegations when contacted last night.
“I don’t know,” he told The Malaysian Insider over the phone.
He said he had not been informed that he was under any probe nor had he received any show-cause letter from the Bar Council as at the time of contact.
According to Lim, the council will initiate its own inquiry and issue a letter to the lawyer being investigated to defend himself first before being referred to the independent disciplinary board.
He added that it depended on the kind of alleged misconduct, which could range from a client being dissatisfied with the lawyer’s service to something more serious, such as fraud.
“I have very little knowledge of what’s going on,” he said, of affairs in the legal fraternity.
The lawyer, who is replacing incumbent Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, said he had stopped his legal practice about a year ago due to his duties as the MCA legal bureau chief for the party’s Pandan division.
