Ex-partner at law firm allegedly cheated 2 people of more than $118,600
Source: Straits Times
Article Date: 01 Aug 2024
Author: Shaffiq Alkhatib
Udeh Kumar Sethuraju, 64, is also accused of pretending to be an advocate or solicitor that year.
A former partner at S K Kumar Law Practice allegedly cheated two people of more than $118,600 in total in separate incidents in 2022.
Udeh Kumar Sethuraju, 64, is also accused of pretending to be an advocate or solicitor that year.
Udeh, whose case was mentioned in a district court on July 31, faces three charges – two counts of cheating and a charge under the Legal Profession Act.
According to court documents, he did not have a practising certificate when he allegedly pretended to be an advocate or solicitor between Aug 23 and Oct 28, 2022, in his dealings with a man.
Udeh was at the law firm’s office on Aug 23, 2022, when he allegedly duped the man into believing that he would act as a lawyer for the man’s sister, who was applying for permanent residency at an undisclosed country.
The man is then said to have handed $40,000 to S K Kumar Law Practice.
Separately, Udeh, who also used to be a manager at the law firm, is accused of cheating a woman of more than $78,600 at the law firm’s office in November 2022.
Court documents stated that the woman had allegedly handed him the amount for safekeeping.
Udeh is said to have concealed the fact that he would use the money on his personal expenses.
His case has been adjourned to Sept 11.
For each count of cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
Source: Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
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