KUCHING, Sun: Former Chief Justice of Borneo Tan Sri Datuk Amar Jonathan Lee Hun Hoe (picture) died here on Friday afternoon. He was 84. He leaves behind his wife Puan Sri Datin Amar Fredia Temiang Lee, four daughters, one adopted son and five grandchildren.
Lee, born in Kedah, obtained his law degree from the University of Southampton and a postgraduate certificate from the Council of Legal Education in London.
According to The Sunday Star today, Lee began his career in the civil service in 1949 at the Secretariat Department here and was transferred to the Judicial Department in 1951, where he served as a magistrate and also acted as deputy public prosecutor and registrar. In 1965 he became a judge of the High Court of Borneo. Three years later he was posted to Sabah as Senior Puisne Judge before rising to become Chief Justice in January 1974. Lee held the post until his retirement in December 1990, making him the longest serving Chief Justice of Borneo.
Lee was also one of the members of the tribunal convened in June 1988 by the then Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad to hear charges of misconduct against the then Lord President, Tun Salleh Abas.
After his retirement, Lee served as chairman of Hexza Corporation Bhd, Wah Tat Bank and Natural Avenue Sdn Bhd.
The cortege will leave his residence, "Sri Temiang" Jalan Rodway, No. 3 Ricketts Estate, Kuching on Monday, 11 July 2005 at 9.00 a.m. to be followed by a Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral at 10.00 a.m. and thereafter for burial at Nirvana Memorial Park, Siniawan, Kuching–Batu Road, Kuching.
The Malaysian Bar extends our heartfelt condolences to Puan Sri Datin Amar Fredia Temiang Lee and family.