Lawrence Ang

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Lawrence Ang Boon Kong (simplified Chinese: 洪文光; pinyin: Hóng Wénguāng) is a Singaporean lawyer who was Director of the Commercial Affairs Department from 1991 to 1999. He replaced Glenn Knight after the latter came under investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.[1] He stepped down in October 1999 when the CAD was merged with the Commercial Crimes Division of the Singapore Police Force.[2]

Before becoming CAD Director, Ang had assisted the Commission of Inquiry into the death of National Development Minister Teh Cheang Wan, who committed suicide in the midst of corruption investigations. He also was the Deputy Public Prosecutor in the trial of Francis Seow.[1] In Seow's trial, lawyer V. K. Dube complained that Ang had misconducted himself by making remarks which were "were unwarranted, baseless and untrue." The Law Society fined Ang S$1,000 but he appealed to the High Court, which waived the fine after deciding that the Law Society had no jurisdiction to discipline Ang because he did not have a practising certificate, even though he was an advocate and solicitor.[3]

During his time as CAD Director, Ang headed the prosecution for cases such as that of former Member of Parliament Choo Wee Khiang[4] and Barings Bank trader Nick Leeson.[5][6][7]

After stepping down, Ang continued to be Deputy Public Prosecutor in several cases. In 2001, he presented the prosecution's case against three men—Wan Kamil Mohamed Shafian, 34; Ibrahim Mohamed, 35; and Rosli Ahmat, 30—who had stabbed taxi driver Koh Ngiap Yong to death with a bayonet and stole the taxi, intending to use it as a getaway vehicle when robbing goldsmith shops.[8] In the 2005 trial of Took Leng How over the murder of Huang Na, he opened the case by outlining the prosecution's argument that Huang Na had been sexually assaulted.[9] He subjected the defence's psychiatrist, R. Nagulendran, to a vigorous cross-examination over the latter's diagnosis that Took was schizophrenic.[10][11][12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Conrad Raj. "Lawrence Ang is now acting head of CAD.", Business Times Singapore, 23 March 1991, p. 1. 
  2. ^ "NEWSFRONT - MRT trains to have happy images.", The Straits Times, 19 October 1999. 
  3. ^ Ben Davidson. "High Court quashes Law Society fine on DPP Ang for 'misconduct'", The Straits Times, 27 March 1990. 
  4. ^ Ven Sreenivasan.. "MP Choo Wee Khiang charged with helping man to cheat.", Business Times Singapore, 2 December 1998. 
  5. ^ "Leeson formally charged in Singapore.", Reuters News, 24 November 1995. 
  6. ^ Murray Hiebert. "FINANCE --- Next Case: Leeson conviction may not be Barings' last", Far Eastern Economic Review, 14 December 1995, p. 70. 
  7. ^ "Barings trader pleads guilty : Leeson awaits sentencing for stock fraud", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 10 December 1995, p. A4. 
  8. ^ Alethea Lim.. "Three on trial for cabby's brutal killing.", The Straits Times, 26 June 2001. 
  9. ^ Chong Chee Kin, Tanya Fong. "Huang Na sexually assaulted, says DPP", The Straits Times, 12 July 2005. 
  10. ^ Chong Chee Kin. "Took all smiles as trial ends", The Straits Times, 29 July 2005. 
  11. ^ "Courtroom showdown sparks applause", The New Paper, 27 July 2005. 
  12. ^ Chong Chee Kin. "DPP locks horns with defence psychiatrist", The Straits Times, 27 July 2005. 
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