Toronto lawyer who stole client money for vacations, handbags and shoes is jailed for contempt
A disgraced real-estate lawyer who recently admitted to stealing millions in client money to support her lavish lifestyle was taken into custody in a Toronto courtroom on Friday, much to the shock and dismay of her family and onlookers. Singa Bui, the former lawyer in question, was handcuffed and escorted out by a constable to begin serving a 20-day sentence for contempt of court.
The presiding Ontario Superior Court Justice William Chalmers did not mince words as he condemned Bui for consistently flouting court orders and only complying when faced with the threat of arrest or imprisonment. This latest development follows a string of legal battles stemming from the embezzlement of nearly $7 million from unsuspecting home-buyers and sellers in southern Ontario by Bui and her husband, Nicholas Cartel. The couple’s now-defunct firm, Cartel & Bui LLP, has left at least 26 plaintiffs seeking justice and recompense for their losses.
Cartel, Bui’s husband and former law partner, is also facing legal repercussions and is set to serve the remaining 10 days of his own contempt sentence following a mix-up that led to his early release. The judge expressed frustration at the lack of compliance from the couple, who have been accused of breaching their fiduciary duty and betraying the trust of their clients. Bui’s license to practice law has been suspended pending further investigation, while Cartel maintains his innocence despite mounting evidence to the contrary.
The case has shed light on the vulnerabilities in the self-regulation of lawyers’ trust accounts by the Law Society of Ontario, as well as the potential for financial manipulation in the home-buying process. Bui’s sworn statement revealed a pattern of misappropriation dating back to 2014, with funds being diverted to sustain a lifestyle beyond their means. Luxury purchases, extravagant vacations, and failed business ventures were all funded by stolen client money, according to Bui’s admission.
Victims of the scheme expressed outrage and disbelief at Bui’s audacity in detailing her extravagant expenditures at their expense. However, the revelation that the stolen funds have mostly been depleted offers a glimmer of hope for restitution through the Law Society of Ontario’s compensation fund. Despite the challenges of recovering losses from the couple, plaintiffs like Nancy Marsilla and Thierry Cohen-Scali are determined to seek justice and hold the perpetrators accountable.
As Bui begins her sentence behind bars, the repercussions of her actions continue to reverberate through the legal community and beyond. The saga of Cartel and Bui serves as a cautionary tale of greed, betrayal, and the enduring pursuit of justice in the face of deception and manipulation.
