SINGAPORE – In a shocking turn of events, a local lawyer, Dhanaraj James Selvaraj, aged 61, has been accused of swindling a staggering $4,000 in excess legal fees from his client.

This alleged misappropriation reportedly took place between March and April 2020, raising serious questions about ethics within the legal profession.

The situation escalates as Dhanaraj is also implicated in a dubious agreement with 50-year-old David Raj Daniel Krishnan.

It is alleged that on June 21, 2019, Dhanaraj entered into an unlawful arrangement wherein he would indemnify David against liabilities that arose while he acted as a surety for a bail bond involving the same client.

This action falls under the purview of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and signifies a grave breach of professional standards.

While court documents remain tight-lipped about the specifics of the victim's case or the intricate relationships between the three individuals, the repercussions are clear.

On September 27, Dhanaraj faced charges for criminal breach of trust in his capacity as an attorney, as well as for the unlawful agreement under the CPC.

A detailed search from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority reveals Dhanaraj as a director and shareholder of the James Selvaraj law firm, but his credentials could not be verified on the Ministry of Law's website, hinting at a deeper investigation into his practice.

David Raj, who also finds himself in hot water as a director and shareholder of a company called Straatford, is similarly facing charges of criminal breach of trust and offenses under the CPC.

In addition to his controversial dealings with Dhanaraj, he is accused of misappropriating a further $10,000 in bail money from the same alleged victim around April 2020.

As the judicial process unfolds, both Dhanaraj and David's cases have been adjourned to October 24.

Penalties for such serious charges can be devastating; offenders convicted of criminal breach of trust face up to seven years in prison.

However, for lawyers acting in a fiduciary capacity, the stakes are even higher—up to 20 years behind bars and hefty fines.

This scandal serves as a grim reminder of the potential for betrayal in the corridors of justice, leaving many to wonder how often such incidents occur in the legal system.

More details are expected to emerge as the court date approaches, revealing the extent of this alarming case. Stay tuned!