A solicitor who lied to a client's wife must serve a 12-month suspension and pay fines totalling $65,000, the Court of Appeal ruled yesterday.
Oswald Wong Siu-ki, who has been a lawyer for 14 years, might have deceived the woman because he wanted to cover up mistakes and inaction in her husband's case, Mr Justice Barry Mortimer said.
'Fortunately, in this particular case, the serious injustice was avoided. But that was a matter of chance,' he said.
Mr Wong lost his appeal against a disciplinary tribunal finding that he was guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor. He had denied the allegation.
The case involved his handling of an appeal by Pang Chi-chuen, who was jailed for 18 months for deception by the District Court in November 1990.
Mr Justice Mortimer said the solicitor was approached by Mr Pang's wife, Suen Fung-kiu, to represent him in the appeal.
He tried to have the case reviewed at the District Court but was informed it had no power to do so.
