Umno linked lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s final appeal to set aside the RM5,000 fine imposed on him by the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board for misconduct in his professional capacity, will be heard tomorrow.

 

It’s to be heard in Court of Appeal 3, at Putrajaya, before a three-member bench.

 

The fine was imposed by the board in 2012, following two articles which appeared in The Star which were said to be flattering to the senior lawyer.

 

Following this, a complaint was made by then Malaysian Bar president Ragunath Kesavan ( photo ). The board then had an inquiry and found that he had flouted Rule 15 (1) (b) of the Legal Profession (Publicity) Rules 2001.

 

The Sunday Star articles dated Sept 27, 2009, were titled 'Counsel rests his case' and 'Keeping within the letter of the law' .

 

Shafee, 63, then tried to set aside the fine at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur (Appellate and Special Powers) division.

 

However, Justice Zaleha Yusof dismissed Shafee's appeal on the grounds the court agreed with the respondent Bar Council that the article did contain laudatory remarks and statements about Shafee and his firm, which were beyond the scope of approved information allowed by the Legal Profession (Publicity) Rules 2001.

 

This led to the final appeal by the senior lawyer tomorrow.