Suva Lawyer Abhay Singh gave evidence under oath today when he appeared before the Independent Legal Services Commission facing four separate charges of allegedly breaching the legal practitioner’s code of conduct.

One of the cases heard today before the Commission Chair John Connors deals with a legal contract Singh helped prepare for two clients where they were going to exchange a piece of land for a taxi permit and that the permit be transferred only after the land in question has been sub-divided and transferred to the new owner.

But, once the taxi permit was transferred, the other party failed to honour the contract and did not transfer the land to the new owner.

Singh claims that the two clients had privately agreed to have the taxi permit transferred before the legal contract was signed and that he had no knowledge of what was transpiring behind his back.

However, the complainant in the case earlier told the Commission that he lodged the application for the taxi permit transfer upon advice from Singh.

The Chief Registrar Ana Rokomokoti question Singh whether it was wise to provide legal advice to two clients on the same matter as a conflict of interest would arise.

She pointed out that a conflict of interest did arise, when Singh wrote to one of his clients demanding that he honour the legal contract and transfer the piece of land.


Singh maintained that he did nothing wrong and also informed both parties that since he drafted the legal documents on their behalf, he cannot take the matter to court for either party.

Singh other cases are currently being heard before the Commission.