Gopal Sri Ram
Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram (16 August 1943 – 29 January 2023) was a Malaysian judge of the Federal Court, a senior lawyer, and a distinguished constitutional jurist.[1] He was the first practising lawyer in Malaysia to be appointed directly to the Court of Appeal when the court was first established in 1994.[2] He was in active practice almost purely as an advocate until his elevation on 17 September 1994.
Gopal Sri Ram SMW PJN DIMP DMSM | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of the Federal Court of Malaysia | |
| In office 2009–2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gopal Sri Ram 16 August 1943 |
| Died | 29 January 2023 (aged 79) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Spouse | Chandra Sri Ram |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
|
| Alma mater | Victoria Institution, Lincoln's Inn |
| Profession | Barrister, Judge, Jurist |
Sri Ram had a distinguished career at the Bar and appeared in several leading cases covering a wide area of law. Many of these cases are reported in the Malayan Law Journal, some of which have introduced new principles into the Malaysian common law.[3] He wrote about 800 judgments while sitting in the Court of Appeal and Federal Court between 1994 and 2010.[1]
He represented Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim in his final appeal for allegedly sodomising former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.[1] Sri Ram was the lead prosecutor for the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project corruption case involving Najib Razak’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.[4] He was also leading the prosecution in Najib Razak's 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts.[1]
Early life and education
Sri Ram was the son of Gopal Ayer Ramaswamy, an assistant commissioner for labour in the state of Selangor, and Mangalam Seetharama Ayer.[5] His father was awarded the MBE and OBE for his work.[5][6] His brother, Datuk Gopal Ayer Sreenevasan, was a pioneering Malaysian surgeon and instrumental in the development of the medical services in Malaysia.[5]
Sri Ram received his early education at Batu Road School and the Victoria Institution. He was called to the English bar by Lincoln's Inn in 1969 and was called to the Malaysian bar in 1970.[7]
Career
For short time after leaving school he taught English and Mathematics. Later, in July 1966 he left for England to study law.[7]
In 1994, Gopal Sri Ram was elevated directly to the Court of Appeal from the private bar during Mahathir Mohamad's administration. He is the first practitioner in Malaysia to be elevated directly to an appellate court.[2] In 2009, he was promoted to the Federal Court and subsequently retired in 2010.[2] Sri Ram is well known for his brilliant explosive and unconventional judgments.[3]
In 2005, Sri Ram was also appointed as a bencher by the Lincoln's Inn.[3]
Sri Ram returned to practice law after his retirement from the bench in 2010, was appointed in 2018 by then attorney-general Tommy Thomas to lead the prosecution in the 1MDB-related cases and Rosmah’s graft case.[1]
Personal life and death
Sri Ram was married to Chandra Sri Ram,[7] and had two sons, one of whom is a practising lawyer.
His father, Datuk Gopal Ayer who was an Assistant Commissioner for Labour, was the only non-British to have been conferred a Member of the British Empire by King George VI.[7][6]
On 29 January 2023, Sri Ram died in hospital, in Kuala Lumpur, after being warded for a lung infection a week before. He was 79.[1][8]
Bibliography
- Sri Ram, Gopal (2008). Information Support for the Legal Profession. Ess Ess Publications. ISBN 978-8-170-00536-0.
Honours
Malaysia :
Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2009)[3]
Malacca :
Companion Class I of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DMSM) – Datuk (1996)[9]
Pahang :
Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato’ (1996)[9]
Federal Territory (Malaysia) :
Grand Commander of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SMW) – Datuk Seri (2010)[7]
References
- FMT Reporters (29 January 2023). "Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram dies, aged 79". Free Malaysia Today.
- Gopal, Sri Ram (December 2017). "A Mere Matter of Words" (PDF). Malaysian Bar. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- "Court of Appeal judge made a Bencher - The Malaysian Bar". www.malaysianbar.org.my. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- Jun, Soo Wern (29 January 2023). "Veteran lawyer Gopal Sri Ram dies at 79". Malay Mail. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- "Sreenevasan, Datuk Gopal Ayer (1922 - 2010)". livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). The Gazette. 13 June 1946. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- Johore Bar (January 2015). "Three Little Indian Boys" (PDF). Johore Bar. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- Khairulrijal (29 January 2023). "Condolences, tributes pour in for Gopal Sri Ram from legal fraternity". New Straits Times. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- Government of Malaysia (29 January 2023). "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang dan Pingat". Laman Web Rasmi Bahagian Isitiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa. Retrieved 29 January 2023.