Laurentius Van Kessel, Through His Attorney Jayawickrama v. Shobha Samaratunga and Another, Attorneys At Law – sllr 2002 volume 2 page 085

Brief
In the case between Laurentius Van Kessel and Shobha Samaratunga and Patrick Prabawansha Wickramasinghe, the court addressed whether funds remitted by the complainant for property and furniture purchases were misappropriated, amounting to deceit and breach of trust under section 42 of the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978. It was held that the 2nd respondent’s misuse of funds constituted criminal misappropriation and a violation of professional trust, warranting removal from the Roll of Attorneys-at-law. The findings reinforced that legal practitioners are held to strict fiduciary standards and misappropriation of client funds justifies professional disenrollment. This decision emphasized adherence to fiduciary duty under statutory and ethical obligations, underscoring the court’s commit