A law graduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS) doctored her degree certificate and transcript with Microsoft Paint to make it look like she had scored better grades.

She then used those grades to apply for jobs, but was found out.

Struck off roll

On Jan. 22, the Court of Appeal heard the Law Society's application to strike Jaya Anil Kumar from the roll, according to Channel NewsAsia.

Graduation and deception

Jaya graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with Second Class Lower Honours in 2011, and was called to the Bar in 2012.

In 2013, Jaya falsified her grades and submitted the fake official transcript while applying to join the Legal Service Commission.

She apparently did so using Microsoft Paint, according to a report from Today.

She managed to get an interview with her falsified degree, but not the job.

Tried again

In 2016, Jaya tried again.

This time, she altered things so that she appeared to have scored a Second Class Upper Honours.

Using this fake degree and transcript, she applied for jobs with R & T Asia Resources, and also the Legal Service Commission once more.

During the interview process, an employee of the Commission asked for her consent to request her class and percentile ranking from NUS.

Jaya refused.

Her deception was then found out.

Justices' ruling

In her defence, Jaya's lawyer argued for a suspension instead, submitting to the Court that she was "young and inexperienced".

However, Justices Belinda Ang, Quentin Loh and Tay Yong Kwang ruled that any law student would have been aware that forgery is a crime.

They singled out Jaya's unwillingness to be "upfront" with the Legal Service Commission, when they asked to request more info from NUS.

"Her conduct shows a consistent trend of resorting to dishonest means to try to get what she wants as a career," they added.

Therefore, they could not justify another sanction other than striking her off the roll, as requested by the Law Society.

Still can change

However, the judges added that Jaya can "repent and change", and they were not saying that she was "irredeemably dishonest".

They said she could "make a good case" for the court to reinstate her as an advocate and a solicitor in the future.

In addition to the Law Society's application, Jaya was also ordered to pay S$5,000 in costs and disbursements.

She was earlier fined S$10,000 in January 2018 for falsifying her documents.

Top image adapted from MD Duran on Unsplash.

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