Lawyer disbarred for misrepresenting position at Customs

[Lee]

JHC---------as hard as it is to become a lawyer and considering the expenses involved, you then throw your career out the window for a 1.4M car deal.

Quote

 

MANILA, Philippines: The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the disbarment of a lawyer who falsely represented his position as a Bureau of Customs (BoC) director authorized to sell vehicles that have been seized by the agency.

The Court ordered the name of Jorge Monroy stricken off the Roll of Attorneys for violating the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA). He was also fined P20,000 for his disobedience to the orders of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

Based on records, Monroy offered to sell to Julieta Co a Toyota Land Cruiser that was among the vehicles confiscated by the BoC for P1.4 million in July 2000.

Monroy assured Co that the transaction was legal and that official receipts would be issued.

On July 18, 2000, Co gave Monroy a check for P150,000. Three days later, she was informed by the accused that the vehicle was ready for delivery.

Co paid Monroy P1,250,000 but was later informed that the vehicle could no longer be released as someone ran off with the money. He then issued a receipt to guarantee the return of the complainant's money.

However, despite the complainant's repeated demands for Monroy to return her money, he kept on avoiding her.

This prompted Co to file the instant administrative case for disbarment and two criminal cases against Monroy.

In disbarring Monroy, the Court emphasized that membership in the Bar is a privilege burdened with continuing requirements. As such, the Court may suspend or even withdraw one's practice of law once it is shown that the lawyer was not able to sustain the high degree of good moral character expected by the community from the members of the legal profession.

The Court pointed out that Monroy used his position as a BoC director to make it appear that the transaction was legitimate by falsely representing his position at the BoC. He carried out the transaction inside his office and engaged the participation of his staff members to gain the complainant's trust.

He then conveniently claimed that the P1.4 million paid by the complainant for the vehicle was taken from his office, and refused to return the amount.

The Court ruled that the totality of the evidence presented proved that Monroy miserably failed to live up to the high moral standards required of members of the legal profession.

 

Lawyer disbarred for misrepresenting position at Customs (msn.com)

[OnMyWay]

3 hours ago, Lee said:

JHC---------as hard as it is to become a lawyer and considering the expenses involved, you then throw your career out the window for a 1.4M car deal.

Lawyer disbarred for misrepresenting position at Customs (msn.com)

This is a Supreme Court case?  

[Old55]

The theft took place 24 years ago. 

[hk blues]

10 minutes ago, Old55 said:

The theft took place 24 years ago. 

Swift justice then!

[Lee]

10 minutes ago, Old55 said:

The theft took place 24 years ago.

Apparently it took 24 years to disbar him. 

[Jack Peterson]

28 minutes ago, Lee said:

Apparently it took 24 years to disbar him. 

 Obviously No statute of Limitations then?

[hk blues]

The guy probably retired a few years ago!

[Mike J]

12 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

This is a Supreme Court case?  

From google

<snip>

27, Rule 138 of the Rules, a member of the Bar, may be disbarred or suspended from his office as attorney by the Supreme Court for any deceit, malpractice, or other gross misconduct in such office, grossly immoral conduct, or by reason of his conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, or for any violation of the ...

<end snip>

[Lee1154]

So the woman never got her money back?  It is hard to trust anyone here.

[hk blues]

3 hours ago, Lee1154 said:

So the woman never got her money back?  It is hard to trust anyone here.

Not always the case...I had no issue handing over my hard-earned cash to the Toyota dealership when I bought my car and never doubted the integrity of the transaction.  The case above is a lot murkier than that and perhaps the expression "Buyer Beware" applies to the women who seems to have been trying to buy a car through a bit of an unconventional means to say the least.