KUALA LUMPUR (June 14): A man with quick wit, a sharp tongue and the memory of an elephant, this is how contemporaries of the late Federal Court Judge and senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram have encompassed his character.

Sri Ram, who passed at the age of 79 last year, was fondly remembered at reference proceedings held in his honour at the High Court here on Friday.

Attorney General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh who spoke at the proceedings also described Sri Ram as a “maverick” among legal practitioners.

“My officers remember Sri Ram as quick-witted with a sharp tongue but never condescending or demeaning and blessed with an elephant’s memory,” he said.

“He was regarded as a maverick among legal practitioners,” he said.

Terrirudin also lamented that Sri Ram was the senior deputy public prosecutor in Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s 1MDB-Tanore trial, but couldn’t see the end of the trial due to his untimely demise.

Justice Datuk Ahmad Kamal Shahid said that Sri Ram had written about 800 judgments in his time and paved the way for the Malaysian Judiciary.

“His sharp focus has saved judicial time by directing the lawyers to the heart of the matter and fundamentals of the law,” he said.

Malaysian Bar president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said Sri Ram’s meteoric rise from legal practice straight to the Court of Appeal was a feat that was remarkable.

“His silver tongue and masterful cross-examinations were a thing to behold,” he said.

Also present at the reference was Sri Ram's wife, Datin Seri Chandra Sri Ram who spoke of Sri Ram’s early life and how he started out as a Mathematics teacher but eventually had taken up reading law, as his parents had wished for him.

Two other late High Court judges, Datuk Wan Yahya Pawan Teh and Tan Sri Visu Sinnadurai were also honoured at the reference.

Ahmad Kamal said that the passing of the three men will leave an irreplaceable void in the judiciary.

Sri Ram had passed away on Jan 29, 2023.