00:01The High Court has dismissed an application by the widow of former Federal Court Judge Gopal Sri Ram
00:07to strike out a suit seeking the return of RM200,000 paid in legal fees.
00:12Justice Alice Lok ruled that Ku Gitaat's claim against Chandra Sri Ram was not obviously unsustainable
00:18and should proceed to a full hearing.
00:21Ku had paid the sum when engaging Sri Ram as lead counsel to represent his son, Adrian,
00:26in a court of appeal-criminal appeal in 2022.
00:30Sri Ram died in January 2023 before completing the appeal,
00:34which was heard and concluded on December 3rd that year.
00:38Ku sought the refund on grounds that the legal services had not been fully provided
00:43and filed the suit against Chandra in her capacity as executrix and trustee of his estate.
00:49Chandra had argued that Ku was not Sri Ram's client and had no standing to sue,
00:54but Lok held that the issue required further examination.
00:58The judge ruled that questions over whether the fees were refundable
01:02involved legal and factual issues that could only be decided at trial.
01:07Chandra has filed an appeal against the decision.
01:10Mun Junyang, FMT.
