Five other trainee lawyers cheated on their 2020 qualifying exams, and the Attorney-General is presently examining their bar petitions, an Attorney-Chambers General's (AGC) official said on Tuesday (Apr 19).
This is in addition to the six trainee lawyers whose bar petitions were delayed last week. The Attorney-General opposed such petitions on the grounds that the applicants had cheated on the 2020 tests.
That was the first time the Attorney-General opposed to bar applications on the grounds that applicants had cheated on tests, according to an AGC spokeswoman.
The six individuals charged last week cheated on the 2020 Part B tests required of law graduates prior to entering the legal profession.
Five candidates shared answers to six of the questions through WhatsApp, while the sixth applicant conspired with another applicant to cheat on three of the papers.
Five of them were granted a six-month postponement in their bar applications, while the sixth was granted a year.
This was because she had denied misconduct and maintained her innocence, according to Justice Choo Han Teck, the High Court judge who presided over their Bar petitions.
Additionally, Justice Choo redacted the six defendants' identities and sealed the court file "in the hope that they would not suffer long-term prejudice."
The AGC spokeswoman stated on Tuesday: "The Attorney-General believes that in all circumstances where applicants cheated on the bar examinations, such applicants would not be fit and suitable to be accepted as Advocates and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Singapore at this time."
This was because "their wrongdoing demonstrated that they lacked the critical characteristics of honesty and integrity required of every lawyer."
At the conclusion of the adjournments, applicants will be expected to submit an affidavit demonstrating why they are "fit and proper individuals" for admission to the bar, the AGC spokeswoman stated.
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