Lawyer who went shopping with card found in private-hire vehicle disbarred

A lawyer thought it was his “lucky day” when he found a card holder left behind in a private-hire vehicle, and used one of the credit cards inside to buy more than $4,300 worth of goods.

- Selina Lum Senior Law Correspondent

After he was arrested, Mr Li Zhongsheng admitted that he had been “greedy and stupid” in making the purchases, court documents stated.

On Oct 14, the 30-year-old was struck off the rolls following his criminal conviction for cheating.

He has served his sentence of three weeks’ jail, imposed in February by a district judge.

The disbarment was handed down by the Court of Three Judges, which has the power to suspend or disbar errant lawyers.

The court agreed with the Law Society of Singapore that Mr Li should be struck off as he had been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty.

The presumptive sanction in such a case is a striking off, and there are no exceptional facts which justify a departure from this rule, said the court.

There was no causal link between Mr Li’s major depressive disorder and the commission of the offences, the judges added.

However, the court noted that he has apologised for his conduct, made full restitution of the amounts cheated, pleaded guilty to the charge against him and readily accepted that he should be struck off.