Lockdown

I was sort of assigned or obliged to take a criminal docket the other day… my first and hopefully the last criminal case.

I was a bit nervous about the case as I have not touched criminal cases at all, beside the prison visits I have during my chambering in Kuala Lumpur.

Fact is, I didn’t even know the whereabouts of the Kota Kinabalu prison!

Anyway, today I finally set my foot into the PENJARA!
Far from what I expected, the KK prison is actually quite a pleasant place, well, from the outlook of it (I didn’t have to chance to went inside the notoriously smelly Men Prison).

I was there to see a female prisoner. The security guard at the entrance was very friendly and helpful and directed me to drive into the prison precinct all the way till the end to reach the Women Prison. So, there I was driving through the nicely painted buildings, barbed wires on the prison walls… I saw some prisoners in bright green prison clothes mowing the lawn, cleaning the banisters at the corridors… it was too serene and peaceful to be a lockdown… to me, it’s more like an asylum, a place to relax! (I might be a bit exaggerated here)

Although I didn’t get to interview the prisoner as intended because I was informed by the nice lady prison police that she has been bailed out by her friend the day before, it doesn’t matter, because I’m glad to have the chance to know just a little bit more about the KK Prison (well, at least now I know where it is).

I’ve also asked the lady prison police whether the prison I wanted to see had been good during her stay and she said, “She’s okay.”

I left shortly… after a very very brief drive through the prison which lasted maybe just short of 10min. The interview was scheduled at 9am and I reached office at 9.15am!

Walking the Dogs

After dinner… I took the Gigi, BouBou and Little Dan for a walk… to unwind and for some wilderness!

 

Morse Code Day

Let’s do some revision… :p

SOS = … --- …
I Love U = .. .-.. --- … . ..-

Old Movies

Maybe it’s a sign of old age… I’ve started a liking to old movies after watching Mamma Mia!

I have watched The Sound of Music (1965) and Mary Poppins (1964).

And now I am looking forward to watch My Fair Lady (1964) and Oliver (1968).

 

Lawyer’s Pay in Hong Kong

The average PER MONTH salary rates for medium-large law firms in Hong Kong are as follows:

QUALIFICATION	HK$ RANGE	HK$ AVERAGE
Graduate	56,000- 72,000	67,000
1 year	60,000- 82,000	72,000
2 years	65,000- 86,000	77,000
3 years	70,000- 93,000	82,000
4 years	75,000- 100,000	90,000
5 years	81,000- 118,000	96,000
6 years	82,000- 130,000	108,000
7 years	90,000- 137,500	120,000
8 years	100,000- 155,000	136,000

Sourced from Dolman

Now I am really really really depressed!

Country Road

Took Little Dan for a walk at the back of our old house… walking down the land the “ancestor land”!

 

Destination: Digi tower

Master Title, Parent Title & Block Title

There are some conveyancing terms that were never taught in law school or law books...

Here're some of them:

Master Title is the big one land title on which many buildings are being build (can be houses, condominiums, shoplots etc). Subsequently, after the development project has been completed, the developer will have to apply for the issuance of separate Subsidiary Title (know as Strata Title in West Malaysia) for each respective unit.

Parent Title is the East Malaysian equivalent of West Malaysia’s Master Title.

Block Title is the main title given to a block of apartments or condominiums constructed on a Master Title. Subsequent to the issuance of separate Subsidiary Title (equivalent to West Malaysia’s strata title) to the different units of apartment/condominium, the entire block of building is held under a Block Title, while the respective units have its own Subsidiary Title. Quit rent is payable in respect of the Block Title. Management of the block of building will then charge each unit of apartment/condominium for its share of quit rent payable.

I hope I have not just confused people even more!

Bird Paparazzi?

I took these pictures on my way to work this morning:

I wonder what’s so interesting that these people came so often to the Tg Lipat wet land to “spy on”? Was it really just the birds? Or is there or are there something else much more interesting? Mmmm… maybe I should join them one day… :)

Flute Exam Pieces

Yay… the flute exam pieces and scale book I ordered from Singapore finally arrived… thanks millions to LM who has graciously helped me took delivery of the books and then posted them from Singapore JUST FOR ME!

LM, I am putting this in black and white and making it legally enforceable :p

In consideration of your kind assistant in the abovementioned matter, I hereby undertake to be your best tour guide in KK when you visit KK in July this year!

 

By the way, I think I have decided on the 3 pieces for the exam, ie:

A3: Allegro 4th movement from Sonata no 3 in F, 2nd suite by Pepusch

B3: Hurdy-Gurdy from Dances of the Dolls by Shostakovich

C3: Flowing No 8from More Easy Jaxx Singles for Flute by Russell Stokes

The Next Concert in Town

LD the Menace

 
Little Dan: Can I have some?

Little Dan: Pleeeeeeeeease?

Little Dan: Oh well, guess I’d just have to help myself!

Little Dan: Arrrrrrgh… too far to reach…

Little Dan: heh shu… jump up!

 
Mom: DAN! Get off the table!!!

MyVi: old face vs new face

Just for fun…

Paying two bills

I received a call from a client’s customer, again, with the question: why do I have to pay legal fees again?!

This is the typical question I get from the public who is buying property knowing nuts about what legal costs involved!

First, lets get the facts clear, this person is my client (bank)’s customer, ie, she is a borrower who has just purchased a property. As the Purchaser, she has paid the legal fees and disbursements (stamp duty and all) in respect of the Sale and Purchase Agreement. However, as she is applying for a bank loan to finance her purchase of the property, she has to fork out another sum of money for the documentations. But after we have prepared the documents for her and called her for an appointment to sign the documents and informed of the bill, she went: I thought I paid you all already?

So I explained to her that, the payment she made to us earlier was in relation of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, and the stamp duty paid thereon was for the Sale and Purchase Agreement and the Transfer documents etc. The documents she is signing now is the loan documents between herself and the bank, which is another set of documents and which is payable with separate stamp duty and of course our legal fee for the preparation of the loan documents!

Get this:

A purchaser has to pay for the legal fees and disbursement for the Sale and Purchase Agreement; and

unless the purchaser is buying the Property with cash, has to be pay the legal fees and disbursement for the Loan Documentation!

 

It’s become quite often that I need to explain this to people so I thought I should blog about it… what bewilders me is that, how can a person who do not even know they have to pay separately for the Sale and Purchase Agreement and Loan Document made the decision to purchase a property worth tens of thousands? They don’t research before their purchase at all?

My Little Dream

I have a dream…
A flute to play…
to help me cope with legal practice!

One day, I wish I could join the Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra as a flute player. And that is why I am taking the ABRSM Grade 3 exam next year…

Pay Back Time

Look what I’ve got in my mail box!
A cheque from LHDN… refunding my overpaid tax!
I must say I am impressed by the speedy refund!

Although LHDN still owes me some money which were overpaid years ago, at least I got back the money overpaid in 2008.

The Sound of Music

I think I first saw this movie when I was a mere 5-year-old at P-QQ’s house in Likas.

And I remember the doremi song in the movie till now!
doe a dear a female deer…
ray a drop of golden sun…
me a name I call myself…
far a long long way to run…
sew a needle pulling thread…
la a note to follow sew…
tea a drink with bread and jam…

So you could say I learned my doremi from this movie!

Watching the movie again after 30 years,
I’ve received more inspirations from some of the scripts:

Like,

When the Lord closes a door...
...somewhere He opens a window.

You have to live the life
you were born to live!

The love of a man and a woman is holy.
You have a great capacity to love.

You must find out how God
wants you to spend your love.

But I pledged my life to God.
I pledged my life to his service.

My daughter, if you love this man,
it doesn't mean you love God less.

Give what you Want

What I want is what I don’t have,
If I have what I wanted,
would I still want?
How am I to give what I want which I don’t have?

Sigh…

This is a world where the rich will get richer,
and the poor will only get poorer… and poorer… and poorer…

Only the rich can afford to give… no?

Maybe I am shallow,
maybe I am pessimistic…
or maybe it’s the loan on my shoulder.

MyVi Mine

 

Here it is!

 
Could you see my chubby shadow there?

This is definitely the most expensive toy I’ve purchased…