Glenn Knight
Encyclopedia
Glenn Jeyasingam Knight (born in 1945) is a Singapore
an lawyer
. He was the first Director of the Commercial Affairs Department
(CAD) when it was founded in 1984. He lost his post in 1991 after being convicted of corruption
in a much-publicised trial. In 1998, he was again tried and convicted for misappropriating
money while in office.
Knight is married to Pathmavali Rengayah. The couple have no children.
. In the 1990s, he was the vice-chairman of its Old Boys' Association and a member of its board of governors. He studied in the University of Singapore in the 1960s, and played the guitar
in a jazz band
to raise money for his tuition fees.
He joined the Singapore Legal Service
in 1970 and rose through the ranks "with the speed and power of an Exocet
missile," as Queen's Counsel
Roy Allaway later described it. Soon he acquired a reputation for being a law enforcer who prosecuted criminals without fear or favour. News of his ability and integrity impressed the late David Marshall
, so much that when he retired he offered to give Knight a full partnership
in his law firm; however, Knight was content to remain in the Legal Service and declined the offer.
on behalf of the Attorney-General
requesting that the High Court
cite five defendants for contempt of court
over an editorial published in the Asian Wall Street Journal (AWSJ) on 17 October 1985. Titled "Jeyaretnam's
Challenge", the editorial had questioned the "integrity and impartiality" of Singapore's judicial system
. The affidavit led to an apology from the editor of the AWSJ. In 1986, he was the public prosecutor for the Commercial Affairs Investigation Department who filed charges against key people in Pan Electric Industries ("Pan-El"), such as Tan Kok Liang, Tan Koon Swan
, and Peter Tham
, in the aftermath of the company's collapse. For his role in the Pan-El investigations, Knight was commended by then-Finance Minister
Richard Hu in 1989. Knight also led the prosecution team in Singapore's first case of insider trading
, that of former United Overseas Bank
banker Allan Ng
. On National Day 1990 (9 August 1990), he was awarded the Public Administration Medal, Gold
, for his work as Director of the Commercial Affairs Department.
in a decision that shocked the local legal community. It turned out that Knight was under investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
(CPIB). After an investigation lasting more than two months—one of the longest probes into the conduct of a public servant in Singapore—Knight was arrested on 27 May 1991 and charged with corruption
the next day. He was the first Singapore legal officer to face such charges. Specifically, he was accused of cheating three businessmen into investing S$3,000,000 each into the former Batam Island Country Club on the Indonesia
n island of Batam
, as well as giving false information to the CPIB regarding vehicle purchases, an application for a car loan, and his corporate investments. The judge originally set Knight's trial to commence in October 1992, but changed his mind and brought it forward to September 1991 after the prosecution complained that its witnesses had been subject to intimidation
, and investigating officers had received mysterious phone calls warning them to "watch out". In July that year, his wife and two others were also arrested and charged over the Batam resort investments.
In a district court on 29 September 1991, Knight pleaded guilty to cheating then managing director of Trans-Island Bus Services Ng Ser Miang
to try to make him invest in the Batam resort project, which had been planned by Knight and his wife. In October, he was sentenced to three months in prison.
Knight appealed against the sentence, and in March 1992 he managed to get his sentence reduced to a $17,000 fine and a day in prison. He served the jail sentence and paid the fine on the day it was announced. In deciding to reduce the sentence, High Court Judge L.P. Thean said that a "nominal custodial sentence" was sufficient given the mitigating circumstances in Knight's case. In April, all charges against his wife in relation to his case were also dropped.
s and solicitor
s, meaning that he could no longer practise law. After being disbarred, Knight worked as a consultant in a public-listed company.
During the trial, the defence argued that the proceedings were invalid as Knight had been granted immunity by the Attorney-General's Chambers in 1991 from further charges arising from his corruption investigations, in exchange for him to plead guilty in the earlier trial. They argued that the latest set of charges stemmed from that investigation and thus were subject to the immunity clause. The CPIB revealed that it had been tipped off about the misappropriation of money only in 1997 by an unnamed informant. The court ruled that the proceedings could continue because the 1991 probe into Knight's dealings did not investigate his misappropriation of money. Eventually the court found him guilty of two charges of misappropriation
and sentenced him to a $10,000 fine and another day in jail.
of which his wife was a partner. He faded quietly from public life.
On 25 April 2007, he re-appeared in the news when he filed an application seeking court approval to be reinstated as a lawyer. His application was granted on 22 May 2007, making him only the sixth lawyer to be reinstated in the Law Society of Singapore
's 35-year history. He will be joining the law firm Bernard & Rada Law Corporation.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He was the first Director of the Commercial Affairs Department
Commercial Affairs Department
The Commercial Affairs Department is a staff department of the Singapore Police Force and is previously known as the Commercial Crime Department....
(CAD) when it was founded in 1984. He lost his post in 1991 after being convicted of corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
in a much-publicised trial. In 1998, he was again tried and convicted for misappropriating
Misappropriation
In law, misappropriation is the intentional, illegal use of the property or funds of another person for one's own use or other unauthorized purpose, particularly by a public official, a trustee of a trust, an executor or administrator of a dead person's estate or by any person with a responsibility...
money while in office.
Knight is married to Pathmavali Rengayah. The couple have no children.
Background
Knight was a student of Anglo-Chinese SchoolAnglo-Chinese School
The Anglo-Chinese School ; is a family of Methodist schools in Singapore, and Indonesia.The name is usually abbreviated as "ACS", with the junior college as "ACJC", and its students and alumni referred to as "ACSians" , or "ACS boys" .ACS was the first school...
. In the 1990s, he was the vice-chairman of its Old Boys' Association and a member of its board of governors. He studied in the University of Singapore in the 1960s, and played the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
in a jazz band
Jazz band
A jazz band is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm section and a horn section, in the early days often trumpet, trombone, and clarinet with rhythm section of piano, banjo, bass or tuba, and drums.-Eras:SwingDuring the swing era in the mid-twentieth...
to raise money for his tuition fees.
He joined the Singapore Legal Service
Singapore Legal Service
The Singapore Legal Service is the collective body of lawyers who serve in the courts, the Attorney-General's Chambers, and the legal departments of various government ministries and statutory boards in Singapore...
in 1970 and rose through the ranks "with the speed and power of an Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
missile," as Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
Roy Allaway later described it. Soon he acquired a reputation for being a law enforcer who prosecuted criminals without fear or favour. News of his ability and integrity impressed the late David Marshall
David Saul Marshall
David Saul Marshall was the leader of the Singapore Labour Front and became the first Chief Minister of Singapore in 1955....
, so much that when he retired he offered to give Knight a full partnership
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
in his law firm; however, Knight was content to remain in the Legal Service and declined the offer.
Notable cases
In 1978, Knight was the deputy public prosecutor in the trial of former magistrate Khoo Hin Hiong. In 1983, he acted for the Prosecution again in the trial of Adrian Lim, who had murdered two children. In 1985, he was the senior state counsel and deputy public prosecutor who filed an affidavitAffidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
on behalf of the Attorney-General
Attorney-General of Singapore
The Attorney-General of Singapore is the legal adviser to the government of the Republic of Singapore and its public prosecutor.The office was founded in 1867 as the chief legal officer of the British crown colony of the Straits Settlements. The current requirements for appointment as...
requesting that the High Court
High Court of Singapore
The High Court of the Republic of Singapore is the lower division of the Supreme Court of Singapore, the upper being the Court of Appeal. It consists of the Chief Justice of Singapore and the Judges of the High Court. Judicial Commissioners are often appointed to assist with the Court's caseload...
cite five defendants for contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
over an editorial published in the Asian Wall Street Journal (AWSJ) on 17 October 1985. Titled "Jeyaretnam's
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam was a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He was the leader of the Workers' Party from 1971 to 2001...
Challenge", the editorial had questioned the "integrity and impartiality" of Singapore's judicial system
Judicial system of Singapore
The full Judicial power in Singapore is vested in the Supreme Court as well as subordinate courts by the Constitution of Singapore. The Supreme Court consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court. The Court of Appeal exercises appellate criminal and civil jurisdiction, while the High Court...
. The affidavit led to an apology from the editor of the AWSJ. In 1986, he was the public prosecutor for the Commercial Affairs Investigation Department who filed charges against key people in Pan Electric Industries ("Pan-El"), such as Tan Kok Liang, Tan Koon Swan
Tan Koon Swan
Tan Koon Swan is a controversial Malaysian political and corporate figure, who was president of the Malaysian Chinese Association from November 1985 to September 1986.Tan first entered the political fray in the late 1970s...
, and Peter Tham
Peter Tham
Tham Wing Fai was a Singaporean stockbroker and the director of Pan-Electric Industries. A failure by him to observe a forward contract agreement that he negotiated with Tan Koon Swan was responsible for the company's collapse in 1985....
, in the aftermath of the company's collapse. For his role in the Pan-El investigations, Knight was commended by then-Finance Minister
Minister for Finance (Singapore)
The Minister for Finance is an appointment in the Cabinet of Singapore and heads the Ministry of Finance. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was Second Minister for Finance, took over the ministership on 2007-12-01 when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong relinquished the Finance post ....
Richard Hu in 1989. Knight also led the prosecution team in Singapore's first case of insider trading
Insider trading
Insider trading is the trading of a corporation's stock or other securities by individuals with potential access to non-public information about the company...
, that of former United Overseas Bank
United Overseas Bank
United Overseas Bank Limited , abbreviated as UOB is a bank incorporated in Singapore. It was founded 6 August 1935 by Kuching-born Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang, father of the present United Overseas Bank Group Chairman, Mr...
banker Allan Ng
Allan Ng
Allan Ng Poh Meng was born in Singapore in 1941. He was the Deputy Chairman of United Overseas Bank , one of the three leading banks in Singapore, for five years after having served UOB for 18 years with total dedication and integrity...
. On National Day 1990 (9 August 1990), he was awarded the Public Administration Medal, Gold
Pingat Pentadbiran Awam
The Pingat Pentadbiran Awam was instituted in Singapore in 1963 and has three grades:* Emas * Perak * Gangsa...
, for his work as Director of the Commercial Affairs Department.
First investigation and trial
On 23 March 1991, Knight was suddenly replaced as CAD director by Senior State Counsel Lawrence AngLawrence Ang
Lawrence Ang Boon Kong 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...
in a decision that shocked the local legal community. It turned out that Knight was under investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau is a government agency in Singapore which investigates and prosecutes corruption in the public and private sectors...
(CPIB). After an investigation lasting more than two months—one of the longest probes into the conduct of a public servant in Singapore—Knight was arrested on 27 May 1991 and charged with corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
the next day. He was the first Singapore legal officer to face such charges. Specifically, he was accused of cheating three businessmen into investing S$3,000,000 each into the former Batam Island Country Club on the Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n island of Batam
Batam
Batam is an island and city in Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, known for its free trade zone area as part of the Sijori Growth Triangle, is located off Singapore's south coast...
, as well as giving false information to the CPIB regarding vehicle purchases, an application for a car loan, and his corporate investments. The judge originally set Knight's trial to commence in October 1992, but changed his mind and brought it forward to September 1991 after the prosecution complained that its witnesses had been subject to intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
, and investigating officers had received mysterious phone calls warning them to "watch out". In July that year, his wife and two others were also arrested and charged over the Batam resort investments.
In a district court on 29 September 1991, Knight pleaded guilty to cheating then managing director of Trans-Island Bus Services Ng Ser Miang
Ng Ser Miang
Ng Ser Miang is a sportsman, diplomat and businessman from Singapore.The former sailor has won a silver medal in the South-east Asian Peninsular Games, and is currently the patron of the Singapore Sailing Federation. He is a vice-president of the Singapore National Olympic Council and a member of...
to try to make him invest in the Batam resort project, which had been planned by Knight and his wife. In October, he was sentenced to three months in prison.
Knight appealed against the sentence, and in March 1992 he managed to get his sentence reduced to a $17,000 fine and a day in prison. He served the jail sentence and paid the fine on the day it was announced. In deciding to reduce the sentence, High Court Judge L.P. Thean said that a "nominal custodial sentence" was sufficient given the mitigating circumstances in Knight's case. In April, all charges against his wife in relation to his case were also dropped.
Aftermath of first conviction
Although the sentence meted to him was eventually reduced, the corruption case had left permanent damage on Knight's career as a civil servant. After investigations on him began in March 1991, he faced disciplinary hearings and his services were terminated on 26 March 1992. The President also revoked the prestigious Public Administration Medal, Gold, that had been awarded to Knight. In August 1994, the High Court struck Knight off the roll of advocateAdvocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
s and solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
s, meaning that he could no longer practise law. After being disbarred, Knight worked as a consultant in a public-listed company.
Second investigation and trial
In 1998, Knight was again charged in court—this time with criminal breach of trust by misappropriating money totalling $4,200 when still the CAD's Director on two occasions, in 1989 and 1990. This second charge caused Knight to resign from his job.During the trial, the defence argued that the proceedings were invalid as Knight had been granted immunity by the Attorney-General's Chambers in 1991 from further charges arising from his corruption investigations, in exchange for him to plead guilty in the earlier trial. They argued that the latest set of charges stemmed from that investigation and thus were subject to the immunity clause. The CPIB revealed that it had been tipped off about the misappropriation of money only in 1997 by an unnamed informant. The court ruled that the proceedings could continue because the 1991 probe into Knight's dealings did not investigate his misappropriation of money. Eventually the court found him guilty of two charges of misappropriation
Misappropriation
In law, misappropriation is the intentional, illegal use of the property or funds of another person for one's own use or other unauthorized purpose, particularly by a public official, a trustee of a trust, an executor or administrator of a dead person's estate or by any person with a responsibility...
and sentenced him to a $10,000 fine and another day in jail.
Aftermath of second conviction
The second conviction left Knight even worse off than before. The company he was working for before his second trial refused to re-employ him. Jobless, he engaged himself in community work in his church, Covenant Community Methodist Church, and often visited a pub in Boat QuayBoat Quay
Boat Quay is a historical quay in Singapore which is situated upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River on its southern bank.It was the busiest part of the old Port of Singapore, handling three quarters of all shipping business during the 1860s...
of which his wife was a partner. He faded quietly from public life.
On 25 April 2007, he re-appeared in the news when he filed an application seeking court approval to be reinstated as a lawyer. His application was granted on 22 May 2007, making him only the sixth lawyer to be reinstated in the Law Society of Singapore
Law Society of Singapore
The Law Society of Singapore is the organisation that represents all lawyers in Singapore. It publishes the Law Gazette and operates a scheme for needy people to benefit from legal services free-of-charge. The Society also sets out rules for how lawyers should advertise. The Law Society is...
's 35-year history. He will be joining the law firm Bernard & Rada Law Corporation.