by Ganesh Sahathevan
The "College Of Law Asia" which used to reside virtually at https://www.collaw.edu.au/collegeinasia is now no longer in existence, even virtually. Readers will recall that there was good reason to doubt if it ever existed, despite The College Of Law Australia advertising it, or using it as a vehicle, for its scandalous attempt to recruit students in Malaysia, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN.
Readers will also recall that the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board, then chaired by Tom Bathurst who as Chief Justice NSW at the relevant time, refused to act on information about the College and its officers misconduct in Malaysia and Singapore. Bathurst chose instead to discredit the information.
Bathurst has since retired as chief justice NSW and has been appointed an international judge o of the Singapore International Commercial Court . His conduct as Chairman NSW LPAB in the matter of The College Of Law will have adverse consequences for anyone in Singapore, Malaysia and the rest of ASEAN who has placed any reliance on the College Of Law's false claims made when building its ultimately failed business in the region.
TO READ WITH
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
College Of Law Sydney shuttered Malaysian office after questions were raised about legality of its Malaysian business - NSW LPAB attempted to conceal College's misconduct in Malaysia from being brought to the attention of the AG's Chambers Malaysia
by Ganesh Sahathevan
On or around mid June 2019 the College Of Law's Director in Kuala Lumpur, Peter Tritt was reminded this writer via email copied to oher Malaysian journalists that he, the College Of Law, and the "College of Law Asia Pacific" had provided no clarification of what seemed, from their own records, a failure to comply with Malaysia's laws while operating their business in Malaysia.
In an entry on its website (since removed) the College Of Law stated:
The College of Law Asia-Pacific and its Director, Peter Tritt, is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The College of Law Asia-Pacific was established in 2016 to expand the College's operations into Asia, with a special focus on the new ASEAN Economic Community.
The College of Law Asia Pacific was not merely a representative office. The offered courses in Malaysia in collaboration with its local partner, the Bar Council Malaysia. These courses included the LLM Malaysian Legal Practice.
The College Of Law, led by CEO Neville Carter had done none fo that , and its "College Of Law Asia Pacific" has been shown to be non-existent.
Shortly after the query was sent College Of Law shuttered its Malaysian operations and its Peter Tritt disappeared (see story below).
The NSW LPAP was made aware of the matter, but did nothing. Instead it let it be known in writing that it disapproved of this writer bringing the matters above to the Attorney General's Chambers Malaysia.
TO BE READ WITH
Bar Council education ‘JV’ must be clarified
The crest has not been used before to promote a course of study, and queries put to Bar Council President Fareed Gafoor about the use of the crest have been acknowledged but remain unanswered.
NMT has however sighted an email from Fareed dated Friday, May 24, 2019 with regards the LLM and the use of the crest where he states:
Dear Rajen,
We can’t remain silent on this.
Abdul Fareed Bin Abdul Gafoor
Sent from my iPad
It is understood that “Rajen” refers to Rajen Devaraj, Chief Executive Officer of the Bar Council Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur.
The Bar has remained silent for nearly 2 months since.
Key person suddenly retired during extensive query
The College of Law used to be represented in Malaysia by its Director, Peter Tritt. Tritt have been queried extensively about the LLM and about the College’s business in Malaysia but has refused to provide answers. Tritt has been based in Kuala Lumpur since 2017 but announced on Friday that he had “retired” from the College on 30 June 2019.
It is understood that Tritt has forwarded queries sent him to his head office in Sydney and hence it appears that Tritt is under orders from his Chief Executive, Neville Carter, to remain silent.
Questionable advertising claims?
In advertising on the College’s website Carter has claimed that he had established a Professional Legal Training course for Malaysian Law students seeking admission to practise in Malaysia. There seems to be no evidence of such a course, or of any national level training course for the existing Certificate of Legal Practise.
Carter has also claimed to have produced the “inaugural” Handbook in Legal Practise for Malaysia, in the late 80s. A search of the main law libraries in Malaysia directed by the Chief Registrar, Federal Court Malaysia, has not found any such handbook.
He has also claimed to have, during that time to have identified and addressed “gaps” in Malaysian legal practise, but not even those in practice during that period and since have ever heard of him. Nor are senior practitioners aware of “gaps” that needed that to be addressed by external consultants.
As CEO of the College Carter has ultimate responsibility for the College’s Malaysian operation headed by Tritt and variously named the “College Of Law Asia Pacific” and the “College Of Law Asia”. A search by NMT has not revealed any entities registered under those names in Malaysia or in Australia, not even a foreign entities registered to conduct business in Malaysia.
Meanwhile the College, in collaboration with the Bar Council continues to sell its LLM and other courses in Malaysia, deriving a fee income from Malaysian courses.
-NMT
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