KUALA LUMPUR: Tributes and condolences poured in from the country's legal fraternity following the death of Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun said Malaysia had lost a great legal mind and senior law practitioner.
"I have known him personally since 1980 when I was a Senior Assistant Registrar.
"I found him to be very courteous, humble and always willing to share his immense legal knowledge, qualities which he always carried.
"I express my deepest condolence to the family at this difficult time," he said when contacted.
Senior lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah described Sri Ram as a lawyer full of surprises.
"I knew him when he was a young eager practitioner and I was a "rookie" deputy public prosecutor in 1977.
"We were never meant to be on the same side from the word go. Always crossing swords in many celebrated criminal and civil cases.
"Even when he was on the bench I felt that he was my opponent to a point when I was asked to show cause for contempt in the Metramac case at the Court of Appeal.
"I stood firm on my grounds and the contempt process just disappeared, sine die," he said.
Shafee said Sri Ram was full of anecdotes and possessed an unusual memory when it comes to law and history.
"What I like most about him was his never-ageing thinking, always learning and applying new ideas.
"We will certainly miss his antics and 'mischiefs' in courts," he said.
Fellow lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said Sri Ram was a great champion in all areas of the law.
"He will always be remembered as such. May his noble soul rest in peace," he said.
Counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent described Sri Ram as Malaysia's own Lord Denning due to his extensive legal knowledge.
"He was the first lawyer to be directly appointed to the Court of Appeal.
"Having served the judiciary for 16 years, he then rejoined the bar and took on various high-profile trials.
"His knowledge and experience are immeasurable. His demise is a great loss to the legal fraternity where he was in a class of his own," he said.
Echoing with others, prominent lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla said the passing of Sri Ram, or 'Judge', as he referred him, is a great loss to Malaysia.
"As far as I remember 'Judge' … he breathes the law. Every step in his life is all about the law.
"It was a pleasure to have known him. After I began my practice, a few years later he was elevated to the bench. And (in his) post-retirement (practice), I did have matters again, against him and with him. So it was always a pleasure to have matters (cases) with him.
"Apart from being a great legal mind, he was also a good man. He had a huge humour as well. Always cracking jokes and making fun of things. There is more to life than just about (legal) practice.
"He has contributed immensely to the legal field and the judiciary. It is a great loss to Malaysia, not only to the legal fraternity and judiciary. May he rest in peace," he said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, recalled Sri Ram as a worthy and respectable opponent in the courts.
"And a real gentleman too. This is a great loss to the legal fraternity.
"I can't say much, at this point. I am still at loss for words over this news", he said.
Sri Ram, 79, also a former Federal Court judge was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital here last week for a lung infection.
He was the lead prosecutor in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption trial of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He was also leading the prosecution of Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, in cases involving corruption in a hybrid-solar power project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak and money laundering amounting to RM7 million.