JOHOR BAHRU, Wed: The Johor Bar
Committee yesterday held another reference for departed members of the Johor Bar
– this time at the Johor Bahru High Court for Siti Mariam Binti Othman who was
called to rest on January 4 this year, and RR Mahendran who passed away on
September 5 this year.
The reference was presided over by all the four Johor Bahru High Court judges –
YA Datuk Syed Ahmad Helmy Bin Syed Ahmad, YA Datuk K P Gengadharan Nair, YA
Datuk Azahar Bin Mohamed and YA Tuan Hj Ghazali Bin Hj Cha.
The Attorney General and State Legal Adviser were represented by the Johor Head of Prosecution Unit, Abdul Rasid Bin Sudin. Johor Bar Chairman, Datuk Abdul Rahman Abdullah represented the Malaysian Bar and the Johor Bar.
The families of Siti Mariam and Mahendran also attended the reference.
Siti Mariam Binti Othman
In his speech, Datuk Rahman said Siti Mariam passed away peacefully on 4 January
2006 at a young age of 32, leaving behind her beloved family and friends. She
was born on 28 March 1974.
Datuk Rahman said Siti Mariam graduated with a Bachelor of
Laws (honours) from the University of Malaya in 1998. She was called to the
Malaysian Bar on 24 April 1999. She then joined M/s T K Ooi Loo & Mahamidah in
Kuala Lumpur as a legal assistant before moving to Johor Bahru in 2002 where she
practised with M/s Abu Talib Shahrom. In 2004 she practised with M/s Hafez &
Partners followed by M/s C Sukumaran & Co in December 2005.
Datuk Rahman added that Siti Mariam was always supportive of the Johor Bar
activities. She actively participated in the Young lawyers programmes and was
also seen at the Bar functions.
"Siti Mariam was fondly known to her peers as a happy go lucky person with a
great sense of humour. She will be greatly missed by her family friends and
members," said Datuk Rahman.
Rafiq Shazwan bin Abdullah @ Ravindran Robin Mahendran
The late Rafiq Shazwan bin Abdullah @ Ravindran Robin Mahendran or better known as R R Mahendran was an enigma, said Datuk Rahman.
Datuk Rahman said Mahendran was born on 4 July 1966. He was
called to the Bar on 1 July 1994 and was practising as a sole proprietor under
the style of R R Mahendran & Co until his untimely death on 5 September 2006. He
was 40 years old when he died.
R R Mahendran, Datuk Rahman said, initially took up medicine in India and after
two years, he realised medicine was not his calling and studied as an external
law student through the University of London and graduated in 1992 with Honours
and was called to the Bar on 1 July 1994.
"Talk about confidence. Six days later he commenced practice as a sole proprietor under the style of R R Mahendran & Co.," said Datuk Rahman.
Even though Mahendran's main area of practice was civil law,
Datuk Rahmand said it was in the area of Habeas Corpus where he found his
calling and niche and for which he deservedly developed a reputation and
respect.
Despite his busy practice, R R Mahendran began to develop a liking for golf when
soon grew to a passion. He was a prominent member of the Malaysian Bar Golf team
and the Johore Bar Golf team. He played for the Malaysia–Singapore Bench and Bar
games and despite his busy schedule he was the organising Chairman of the
inaugural golf tournament for the MASINDO Golfers Cup in Bintan Island,
Indonesia. R R Mahendran was also a keen scuba diver and played futsal with
gutso.
Datuk Rahman went on to say that R R Mahendran would be remembered by the Bar
for his generosity and philanthropy. He was truly generous and supportive of
charitable causes, and had donated freely to many worthy causes of the Bar.
"Beneath his tough and resolute exterior, R R Mahendran was a great son to his
parents and was a loving husband to his wife Susan and a doting father to his
children Dhanush Mahendran, Kayshini Mahendran, Angel Sabrina and Harish Ricky
"Let us remember R R Mahendran above all as a lawyer, proud that he was one of
us and more importantly he was from the Johore Bar. May his soul rest in peace,"
said Datuk Rahman.
Datuk Rahman then extended the Bar's condolences to the bereaved families and
asked for the records of the reference proceedings be kept in the Courts
archives and a copy extended to the said families.
A Sad Day
In response, Abdul Rasid said it was a very sad occasion to gather to pay
tributes to the two departed members of the Johor Bar.
He said he associated himself with what was said and expressed of both Siti
Mariam and Mahendran.
"On behalf of the State Legal Adviser of Johor and all
officers in the Legal and Judicial service, I would like to extend our deepest
sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the families of Allahyarhamah and
Allahyarham. May God bless both of them and their families and all of us who
gather here today," said Abdul Rasid.
Record of proceedings to be kept in the archives of the court
Speaking for all his brother judges, Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy said Mahendran needed no introduction to the Johor Courts as he was a regular feature in the Courts and a recognised specialist in habeas corpus applications.
"The number of habeas corpus applications handled by him and
in particular to the high success rate has in the year 2005 placed the Johor
Bahru High Court in the limelight as the forum with a very high degree of the
allowing such application. In this connection as aptly conveyed by your Chairman
and for which we cannot agree more that it was in the are of habeas corpus where
the late R R Mahendran found his calling and niche and for which he developed
reputation and respect.
"He had during his relatively short stay in this world given his best not only
to his family but also the legal fraternity which remains etched in our
memories.
"The expressions of tribute conveyed is a source of great satisfaction for I and
my brother judges to acknowledge concur and accept," said Justice Syed Ahmad
Helmy.
As regards Siti Mariam, Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy said even though he did not
have the opportunity of getting to know her talent as a lawyer as she seldom
appeared before him, his lordship could note from the tribute extended that Siti
Mariam was an active participant in the Johor Bar activities and one who possessed
afriendly disposition.
Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy then made the Order that the reference proceedings in
memory of the Siti Mariam and Mahendran be kept in the Court’s archives and a
copy be given to each of the deceased family.