ARIFFIN ISKANDAR SHA BIN ALI AKBAR

[2025] SGHC 156 High Court (General Division) 8 August 2025 • HC/AAS 108/2023|HC/AAS 371/2024|HC/AAS 565/2024 • 53 min read
12 cases cited

Catchwords

Legal Profession — Admission

Practice Areas

Legal Profession

Judges (1)

Sundaresh Menon Delivered

Counsel (26)

Allen & Gledhill LLP Firm Attorney-General's Chambers Firm Audent Chambers LLC Firm Breakpoint LLC Firm Calvin Liang Chambers LLC Firm Eugene Thuraisingam LLP Firm Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC Firm Singapore Institute of Legal Education Firm Calvin Liang Counsel Respondent Chng Luey Chi Counsel Respondent Darius Chan Counsel Respondent Eugene Singarajah Thuraisingam Counsel Applicant Jasmine Goh Counsel Respondent Jeyendran Jeyapal Counsel Respondent Jordan Tan Counsel Applicant Kenneth Lim Tao Chung Counsel Respondent Mario Khoe Counsel Respondent Megan Ong Counsel Respondent Michael Palmer Counsel Respondent Ng Yuan Siang Counsel Applicant Rachel Tan Counsel Respondent Rachel Tan Xi En Counsel Respondent Rochelle Lim Counsel Respondent Sanjna Rai Counsel Respondent Sarah Shi Counsel Respondent Valen Lim Counsel Respondent

Parties (6)

Attorney-General Respondent Law Society of Singapore Respondent Singapore Institute of Legal Education Respondent Ariffin Iskandar Sha bin Ali Akbar Applicant Foo Zhong Yu Aaron Applicant Harish Rai Applicant

Case Significance

[2025] SGHC 156 is a High Court (General Division) decision dated 8 August 2025 concerning Legal Profession, specifically addressing admission. The judgment was delivered by Sundaresh Menon. The case was brought by Ariffin Iskandar Sha bin Ali Akbar and others (applicant) against Attorney-General and others (respondent). Legal representation was provided by Audent Chambers LLC and Allen & Gledhill LLP. The judgment cites 12 cases and references 3 statutory provisions, including the Legal Profession Act, the Penal Code, and the Public Order Act.

Summary

The Chief Justice addressed three applications for admission to the Singapore Bar involving applicants with character issues, establishing a framework for handling 'Legacy Cases' where applicants completed formal requirements before the court's evolving approach to character fitness. The court stayed the applications for periods ranging from 18 months to 3 years, and clarified that a stay rather than withdrawal may be appropriate to preserve the applicant's eligibility while allowing time for rehabilitation.

What was decided in [2025] SGHC 156?

[2025] SGHC 156 (ARIFFIN ISKANDAR SHA BIN ALI AKBAR) is a High Court (General Division) decision from 8 August 2025 addressing Legal Profession, specifically admission. The judgment was delivered by Sundaresh Menon.

Who were the parties in ARIFFIN ISKANDAR SHA BIN ALI AKBAR?

The applicant in [2025] SGHC 156 was Ariffin Iskandar Sha bin Ali Akbar, Foo Zhong Yu Aaron, and the respondent was Attorney-General, Law Society of Singapore. Legal representation included Allen & Gledhill LLP and Attorney-General's Chambers. The case was decided on 8 August 2025 in the High Court (General Division).

Which judge decided [2025] SGHC 156?

[2025] SGHC 156 was delivered by Sundaresh Menon in the High Court (General Division) on 8 August 2025. The case concerned Legal Profession.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGHC 156 cite?

[2025] SGHC 156 cites 12 prior decisions. It references Legal Profession Act, Penal Code, Public Order Act.

Statutes Cited

Legal Profession Act (Cap 161)
s 12(2)(b)
Penal Code (Cap 224)
s 500
Public Order Act (Cap 257A)

Cases Cited (12)

SG (1)
[2025] SGHC 72
SLR (11)
[2021] 1 SLR 180 [2022] 5 SLR 896 [2023] 4 SLR 1258 [2023] 4 SLR 1760 [2023] 4 SLR 541 [2023] 5 SLR 1272 [2024] 3 SLR 1443 [2024] 4 SLR 1324 [2024] 4 SLR 392 [2024] 4 SLR 401 [2024] 6 SLR 173

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGHC 156)