3. Rule 8 of the principal Rules is amended by deleting paragraph (5) and substituting the following paragraphs:
“(5) No sum exceeding $5,000 shall be drawn from a client account except upon a cheque (or other instruction effecting the withdrawal) signed by 2 solicitors.
(6) Paragraph (5) shall not apply if —
(a)
the solicitor has engaged a book-keeper for the purposes of rule 11 (8); and
(b)
the sum to be drawn does not exceed $30,000.
(7) A solicitor shall not sign a cheque or other instruction effecting a withdrawal from a client account if —
(a)
the solicitor has been —
(i)
in practice as a solicitor in Singapore for less than 3 years in aggregate; or
(ii)
employed as a legal officer for less than 3 years in aggregate;
(b)
the solicitor is not holding a current practising certificate; or
(c)
the practising certificate of the solicitor is subject to any condition imposed under section 25A or 27A of the Act prohibiting the solicitor from signing such cheques or instructions.
(8) For the avoidance of doubt, a solicitor shall comply with the requirements of these Rules in respect of the withdrawal of money from a client account notwithstanding that the leave of a Judge of the High Court has been obtained in respect of that withdrawal for the purposes of paragraph (4).”.