Kayveas and wife to appeal court decision

Lawyers M Kayveas and wife Blanche O'Leary will appeal against the decision of the High Court in dismissing their suit against the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board which found

them guilty of misconduct.

Both up them plan to take the case up to the Court of Appeal, Kayveas told Bernama today.

High Court judge Lau Bee Lan on Thursday ruled that the board was in the best position to judge the conduct of its members, and as such the court would not interfere with the ruling.

Kayveas and O'Leary were ordered by the Advocates and Solictors Disciplinary Board to pay a penalty of RM5,000 each on March 17, 2005 for misconduct by breaching terms of entrustment as stakeholders.

Both had named the Bar Council as the sole respondent in a civil appeal filed on April 14, 2005.

The case against the two were that they had breached their undertaking in respect of monies received as stakeholders for the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) between Jordone Corporation and Avacado Corporation Sdn Bhd.

The two, were solicitors for Avacado Corporation, which had entered into a RM2 million property sale and purchase transaction with Jordone Corporation.

Kayveas and his wife were said to have received the money paid under the agreement but did not release it in accordance with the terms of the agreement.