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| {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} | |||
| {{Short description|Singaporean politician}} | |||
| {{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
| | honorific_prefix = ] | | honorific_prefix = ] | ||
| | honorific_suffix |
| honorific_suffix = | ||
| | name = Christopher de Souza | | name = Christopher de Souza | ||
| | image = |
| image = ] | ||
| | imagesize = |
| imagesize = | ||
| | caption |
| caption = de Souza in 2015 | ||
| | office1 = ] | | office1 = ] | ||
| | alongside1 = ] | | alongside1 = ] | ||
| | primeminister1 = ] <br> ] | |||
| | 1blankname1 = Speaker | | 1blankname1 = Speaker | ||
| | 1namedata1 = ] | | 1namedata1 = ] <br> (2023–present) <br> ]<br />(2017–2023) | ||
| | term_start1 = 31 August 2020 | | term_start1 = 31 August 2020 | ||
| | term_end1 = | | term_end1 = | ||
| | predecessor1 = ] |
| predecessor1 = ]<br />] | ||
| | successor1 = | | successor1 = | ||
| | constituency_MP2 = ] |
| constituency_MP2 = ]<br />(Ulu Pandan) | ||
| | |
| term_start2 = 6 May 2006 | ||
| | |
| term_end2 = | ||
| | |
| majority2 = 34,991 (32.72%) | ||
| | |
| predecessor2 = ] | ||
| | |
| successor2 = | ||
| ⚫ | | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|1|21}} | ||
| ⚫ | | |
||
| | birth_place = ] | |||
| ⚫ | | birth_date = {{ |
||
| | nationality = |
| nationality = Singaporean | ||
| ⚫ | | citizenship = | ||
| | alma_mater = ]<br />] | | alma_mater = ] (])<br />] (]) | ||
| | party = ] |
| party = ] | ||
| | occupation = {{hlist|Politician|lawyer}} | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Christopher de Souza''' (born 21 January 1976) is a Singaporean politician and lawyer who has been serving as ] since 2020. A member of the governing ] (PAP), he has been the ] (MP) representing the Ulu Pandan division of ] since 2006. | |||
| A lawyer by profession, de Souza has been working at ] since 2006<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320110956/http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/christopher-de-souza?viewcv=Christopher%20De%20Souza |date=20 March 2012 }}, accessed on 22 October 2015.</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530150540/http://www.leenlee.com.sg/our-people/partners/de-souza-christopher/ |date=30 May 2016 }}, accessed on 22 October 2015.</ref> and had also worked at ] between 2011 and 2014. | |||
| Prior to entering politics in the ], he had worked in the ].<ref name="Parliament CV" /> | |||
| ⚫ | ==Early life== | ||
| de Souza first served as a ] to then ] ], then as Deputy Public Prosecutor, followed by State Counsel, Magistrate, and finally Assistant Registrar at the ]. He graduated from his LLB Class at ] with First Class Honours in 2000 and then pursued his post-graduate studies as a Shell Scholar at the ] where he graduated with a ] with distinction in 2001.<ref name="pap"/> During ] in the ], he was assigned to a combat squadron and was conferred the Sword of Honour.<ref name="straits">{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, accessed on 16 September 2011</ref> He completed his National Service as an ].<ref name="leenlee"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105113723/http://www.leenlee.com.sg/en/our-people/details.html?tx_smemployeelist_pi1%5BempID%5D=177 |date=2015-01-05 }}, accessed on 31 August 2015.</ref> He represented Singapore in ] at various tournaments up to 2005.<ref name="leenlee"/> | |||
| ⚫ | ==Early life and education== | ||
| ⚫ | ==Political career== | ||
| de Souza was educated at ], ] and ] before graduating from ] in 2000 with a ] with first class honours degree. | |||
| de Souza is a representative of the ] and a part of the team which won the ] for the ] with a margin of 60.08% of the votes.<ref name="yahoo">, Fann Sim, SingaporeScene, Yahoo! News Singapore, 12 May 2011, accessed on 16 September 2011.</ref> He is specifically in charge of ] ward where he has been the Parliamentary representative since 2006.<ref name="pap"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504142005/http://ge.pap.org.sg/candidate/chrisdesouza |date=2011-05-04 }}, accessed on 16 September 2011.</ref> | |||
| He subsequently went on to complete a ] with distinction degree at the ] in 2001 under a scholarship.<ref name="Parliament CV">{{Cite web |title=Member's CV |url=https://www.parliament.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/13thparl-cv_-mr-christopher-de-souza.pdf}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| He had also represented Singapore in ] at various tournaments until 2005.<ref name="Parliament CV" /><ref name="leenlee"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105113723/http://www.leenlee.com.sg/en/our-people/details.html?tx_smemployeelist_pi1%5BempID%5D=177|date=5 January 2015}}, accessed on 31 August 2015.</ref> | |||
| de Souza was elected Deputy Speaker in the 14th Parliament. | |||
| == Career == | |||
| === Public service === | |||
| de Souza started his career in the ] in 2002 as a ] to ] ]. He served as Deputy Public Prosecutor and State Counsel at the ] between 2004 and 2005 before becoming a Magistrate at the ] and Assistant Registrar at the ] between 2005 and 2006.<ref name="pap" /><ref name="Parliament CV" /> | |||
| === Legal career === | |||
| de Souza joined Lee & Lee in 2006 as a Senior Associate before he became a Partner in 2008. In 2011, he moved to ] as a Partner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WongPartnership adds lawmaker as partner from Lee & Lee {{!}} Asian Legal Business |url=http://www.legalbusinessonline.com/news/wongpartnership-adds-lawmaker-partner-lee-lee/60251 |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=www.legalbusinessonline.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2015, he left WongPartnership and returned to Lee & Lee as a Partner.<ref name="Parliament CV" /> | |||
| In 2022, the Disciplinary Tribunal of the ] made a finding that de Souza had engaged in professional misconduct by assisting a client in suppression of evidence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/lawyer-and-mp-christopher-de-souza-found-guilty-of-professional-misconduct-over-clients-suppression-of-evidence |title=Lawyer and MP Christopher de Souza found guilty of professional misconduct, denies charge |last=Lum |first=Selina |date=6 December 2022 |publisher=The Straits Times |access-date=7 December 2022 |quote="We are of the view that the failure to make such full and frank disclosure amounted to suppression of evidence by Amber, and by filing the supporting affidavit, the respondent was a party to and assisted in such suppression"}}</ref> However, this decision was overturned on appeal. On 31 July 2023, the ] acquitted de Souza, finding no intention on his part to suppress evidence on behalf of his client.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Court of Three Judges acquits MP Christopher de Souza of misconduct as a lawyer|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mp-christopher-de-souza-lawyer-improper-professional-conduct-acquitted-3665811|website=CNA|date=31 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Court acquits lawyer and MP Christopher de Souza of professional misconduct charge|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/court-acquits-lawyer-and-mp-christopher-de-souza-of-professional-misconduct-charge|website=The Straits Times|date=31 July 2023}}</ref> Subsequently, in November 2023, the Law Society of Singapore was ordered to refund de Souza over S$32,000 in costs, affirming his complete exoneration. Through his lawyers, de Souza expressed that he was 'humbled' by the decision and 'feels fully vindicated'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Law Society ordered to refund Christopher de Souza costs of over S$32,000 after his acquittal |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/law-society-ordered-refund-costs-christopher-de-souza-acquittal-3902566 |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Correspondent |first=Selina LumSenior Law |date=2023-11-08 |title=Law Society ordered to refund $32k to Christopher de Souza following acquittal |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/law-society-ordered-to-refund-32k-to-christopher-de-souza-following-acquittal |access-date=2024-05-29 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | === Political career === | ||
| De Souza made his political debut in the ] when he joined a five-member ] (PAP) team contesting in ]. The PAP team won by an uncontested walkover and de Souza thus became a Member of Parliament representing the Ulu Pandan ward of Holland–Bukit Timah GRC.<ref name="Parliament Profile">{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.gov.sg/mps/list-of-current-mps/mp/details/christopher-de-souza|title = MP | Parliament of Singapore}}</ref> | |||
| During the ], de Souza joined the four-member PAP team contesting in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC. After they won with 60.08% of the vote against the ], de Souza continued serving as the Member of Parliament representing the Ulu Pandan ward of Holland–Bukit Timah GRC.<ref name="yahoo"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514180849/http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/final-tally-votes-cast-ge2011-released-171354318.html |date=14 May 2011 }}, Fann Sim, SingaporeScene, Yahoo! News Singapore, 12 May 2011, accessed on 16 September 2011.</ref><ref name="pap"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504142005/http://ge.pap.org.sg/candidate/chrisdesouza |date=4 May 2011 }}, accessed on 16 September 2011.</ref> He retained his parliamentary seats in the subsequent general elections in ] and ] after the PAP team in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC won with 66.60% and 66.36% of the vote against the ] in those two general elections.<ref name="Parliament Profile" /> | |||
| ⚫ | De Souza has served on various ] since 2006, and has been the Deputy Chairman for the GPC on Manpower from 2011 to 2015, and Chairman for the GPC on Home Affairs and Law since 2015.<ref name="Parliament Profile" /> In 2009, he was nominated as a Young Global Leader at the ].<ref name="wef"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814084632/http://www.weforum.org/young-global-leaders/christopher-de-souza/index.html |date=14 August 2011 }}, accessed on 16 September 2011.</ref> On 31 August 2020, de Souza and ] were elected as ].<ref name="Parliament Profile" /> | ||
| ==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
| De Souza is a Catholic.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Catholic MP talks about his faith and family values |url=https://catholicnews.sg/2013/08/04/catholic-mp-talks-about-his-faith-and-family-values/}}</ref> He and his wife Sharon have four children.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
| de Souza is a ] and is married. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 04:11, 31 July 2024
Singaporean politician
| The HonourableChristopher de Souza | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 31 August 2020Serving with Jessica Tan | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong Lawrence Wong |
| Speaker | Seah Kian Peng (2023–present) Tan Chuan-Jin (2017–2023) |
| Preceded by | Charles Chong Lim Biow Chuan |
| Member of Parliament for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC (Ulu Pandan) | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Vivian Balakrishnan |
| Majority | 34,991 (32.72%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1976-01-21) 21 January 1976 (age 48) Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Alma mater | King's College London (LLB) University of Oxford (BCL) |
| Occupation |
|
Christopher de Souza (born 21 January 1976) is a Singaporean politician and lawyer who has been serving as Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore since 2020. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Ulu Pandan division of Holland–Bukit Timah GRC since 2006.
A lawyer by profession, de Souza has been working at Lee & Lee since 2006 and had also worked at WongPartnership between 2011 and 2014.
Prior to entering politics in the 2006 general election, he had worked in the Singapore Legal Service.
Early life and education
de Souza was educated at St. Michael's Primary School, St. Joseph's Institution and Raffles Junior College before graduating from King's College London in 2000 with a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours degree.
He subsequently went on to complete a Bachelor of Civil Law with distinction degree at the University of Oxford in 2001 under a scholarship.
He had also represented Singapore in hockey at various tournaments until 2005.
Career
Public service
de Souza started his career in the Singapore Legal Service in 2002 as a Justice's Law Clerk to Chief Justice Yong Pung How. He served as Deputy Public Prosecutor and State Counsel at the Attorney-General's Chambers between 2004 and 2005 before becoming a Magistrate at the Subordinate Courts and Assistant Registrar at the High Court between 2005 and 2006.
Legal career
de Souza joined Lee & Lee in 2006 as a Senior Associate before he became a Partner in 2008. In 2011, he moved to WongPartnership as a Partner. In 2015, he left WongPartnership and returned to Lee & Lee as a Partner.
In 2022, the Disciplinary Tribunal of the Law Society of Singapore made a finding that de Souza had engaged in professional misconduct by assisting a client in suppression of evidence. However, this decision was overturned on appeal. On 31 July 2023, the Court of Three Judges acquitted de Souza, finding no intention on his part to suppress evidence on behalf of his client. Subsequently, in November 2023, the Law Society of Singapore was ordered to refund de Souza over S$32,000 in costs, affirming his complete exoneration. Through his lawyers, de Souza expressed that he was 'humbled' by the decision and 'feels fully vindicated'.
Political career
De Souza made his political debut in the 2006 general election when he joined a five-member People's Action Party (PAP) team contesting in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC. The PAP team won by an uncontested walkover and de Souza thus became a Member of Parliament representing the Ulu Pandan ward of Holland–Bukit Timah GRC.
During the 2011 general election, de Souza joined the four-member PAP team contesting in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC. After they won with 60.08% of the vote against the Singapore Democratic Party, de Souza continued serving as the Member of Parliament representing the Ulu Pandan ward of Holland–Bukit Timah GRC. He retained his parliamentary seats in the subsequent general elections in 2015 and 2020 after the PAP team in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC won with 66.60% and 66.36% of the vote against the Singapore Democratic Party in those two general elections.
De Souza has served on various Government Parliamentary Committees (GPCs) since 2006, and has been the Deputy Chairman for the GPC on Manpower from 2011 to 2015, and Chairman for the GPC on Home Affairs and Law since 2015. In 2009, he was nominated as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum. On 31 August 2020, de Souza and Jessica Tan were elected as Deputy Speakers of Parliament.
Personal life
De Souza is a Catholic. He and his wife Sharon have four children.
References
- Christopher de Souza Parliament of Singapore Archived 20 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on 22 October 2015.
- Lee & Lee - Partners - Christopher de Souza Archived 30 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on 22 October 2015.
- ^ "Member's CV" (PDF).
- Lee & Lee - Partners - Christopher de Souza Archived 5 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on 31 August 2015.
- ^ People's Action Party - MP-Elect Profile - Christopher de Souza Archived 4 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on 16 September 2011.
- "WongPartnership adds lawmaker as partner from Lee & Lee | Asian Legal Business". www.legalbusinessonline.com. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- Lum, Selina (6 December 2022). "Lawyer and MP Christopher de Souza found guilty of professional misconduct, denies charge". The Straits Times. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
We are of the view that the failure to make such full and frank disclosure amounted to suppression of evidence by Amber, and by filing the supporting affidavit, the respondent was a party to and assisted in such suppression
- "Court of Three Judges acquits MP Christopher de Souza of misconduct as a lawyer". CNA. 31 July 2023.
- "Court acquits lawyer and MP Christopher de Souza of professional misconduct charge". The Straits Times. 31 July 2023.
- "Law Society ordered to refund Christopher de Souza costs of over S$32,000 after his acquittal". CNA. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- Correspondent, Selina LumSenior Law (8 November 2023). "Law Society ordered to refund $32k to Christopher de Souza following acquittal". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "MP | Parliament of Singapore".
- Final tally of votes cast for GE2011 released Archived 14 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Fann Sim, SingaporeScene, Yahoo! News Singapore, 12 May 2011, accessed on 16 September 2011.
- World Economic Forum - Christopher De Souza Archived 14 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on 16 September 2011.
- ^ "Catholic MP talks about his faith and family values".
External links
| Parliament of Singapore | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byVivian Balakrishnanas MP for Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC (Ulu Pandan) | Member of Parliament for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC (Ulu Pandan) 2006 – present |
Incumbent |
