M Karthigesu Gold Medal and Memorial Prize

This article appeared in The Straits Times, 20 Sept 2000 Award honours judge
By Neal Cooke

AN AWARD for top law students has been set up by one of the biggest shipping law firms here in honour of the late
Justice M. Karthigesu.

The firm, Joseph Tan Jude Benny Advocates and Solicitors, launched the M Karthigesu Gold Medal and Memorial Prize
on Monday.

The 14-karat gold medal will be presented each year to the top law student specialising in shipping law at the National University of Singapore.

The law firm’s senior partner, Mr Jude Benny, said the idea for the award came to him after the sudden death of Justice Karthigesu.

It was a way of passing on the judge’s legacy and his many contributions to the legal profession.

Justice Karthigesu, a Court of Appeal judge, died on July 21 last year.

The 75-year-old was suffering from stomach cancer.

He was well-liked in the legal community and regarded by many as the perfect gentleman and a doyen of the Shipping Bar, said Mr Benny.

When he was in private practice between 1953 and 1990, he was a leading advocate in shipping law.

In his later years, he became renowned as a judge.

This year’s inaugural award was won by final-year NUS Law undergraduate Loh Wai Yue, 24, who said it was a pleasant surprise.

“While I was taking the course, I wasn’t aware that there was an award,” he said. “But I’m proud to be the first winner.”

He said the award had spurred him on to pursue a career in shipping law after he graduates next year.