Ex-lawyer jailed for CBT dies from heart disease, was found motionless in prison
SINGAPORE — A former lawyer who was jailed for misappropriating legal fees from his clients has died one week after receiving his prison sentence, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) said in a statement on Thursday (8 October).
Zaminder Singh Gill was found unresponsive and motionless in his cell by prison officers early on Monday morning. An officer administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived to take him to Changi General Hospital (CGH), where he was pronounced dead the same morning.
Zaminder’s cause of death is hypertensive heart disease. SPS said a coroner’s inquiry will be conducted, as per the standard procedure for deaths that occur in prison.
Last Monday, Zaminder was sentenced to two years and three months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to five of 15 charges of criminal breach of trust as an attorney. The charges involved $31,550 in all that was misappropriated from 16 clients between January 2017 and June last year.
Zaminder, who was called to the Singapore Bar in 2005, did not object to the sentence sought by the prosecution and cried in the dock, saying he was “really very sorry” and that he had “lost everything”.
In its statement, SPS said Zaminder was first remanded at Changi Prison on 16 October last year.
He was referred to CGH on 19 August this year after an abnormal electrocardiogram reading. He was not admitted and referred to a cardiologist. Three days later, the cardiologist ordered further tests.
Last Wednesday, Zaminder went for a scheduled test at the hospital but was admitted as he complained of chest pain during the appointment.
He was discharged last Friday, with a follow-up test scheduled for 1 December.
As a precautionary measure, Zaminder was housed in SPS’ medical center for monitoring after his discharge. On Sunday, an SPS medical officer assessed Zaminder to be in stable condition and allowed him to return to his normal cell, where he was staying alone.
Officers found him unresponsive and motionless at 7.44am the next day.
SPS said it is in contact with Zaminder’s family and will continue to render support and assistance to them.
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