Lawrence Ang

Who is Lawrence 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. He stepped down in October 1999 when the CAD was merged with the Commercial Crimes Division of the Singapore Police Force.

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. 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. On appeal to the Singapore Court of Appeal, the Court decided that because Ang was an advocate and solicitor, the jurisdiction of the Law Society did extend to him notwithstanding his lack of a practicing certificate: however, on the facts they did not uphold the fine.