No barrister, attorney, pleader or vakil shall at any time be permitted, unless with his client's express consent, to disclose any communication made to him in the course and for the purpose of his employment as such barrister, pleader, attorney or vakil, by or on behalf of his client, or to state the contents or condition of any document with which he has become acquainted in the course and for the purpose of his professional employment or to disclose any advice given by him to his client in the course and for the purpose of such employment:
Provided that nothing in this section shall protect from disclosure -
(1) any such communication made in furtherance of any 1[illegal purpose],
(2) any fact observed by any barrister, pleader, attorney or vakil, in the course of his employment as such, showing that any crime or fraud has been committed since the commencement of his employment.
It is immaterial whether the attention of such barrister, 2[pleader], attorney or vakil was or was not directed to such fact by or on behalf of his client.
Explanation. The obligation stated in this section continues after the employment has ceased.
Illustrations
(a) A, a client, says to B, an attorney I have committed forgery and I wish you
to defend me.
As the defence of a man known to be guilty is not a criminal purpose, this communication is protected from disclosure.
(b) A, a client, says to B, an attorney I wish to obtain possession of property by the use of a forged deed on which I request you to sue.
This communication, being made in furtherance of a criminal purpose, is not protected from disclosure.
(c) A, being charged with embezzlement, retains B, an attorney, to defend him. In the course of the proceedings, B observes that an entry has been made in As account book, charging A with the sum said to have been embezzled, which entry was not in the book at the commencement of his employment.
This being a fact observed by B in the course of his employment, showing that a
fraud has been committed since the commencement of the proceedings, it is not
protected from disclosure.
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1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1872, s. 10, for "criminal".
2. Ins. by s. 10, ibid..
Section 121 Judges and Magistrates
Section 122 Communications during marriage
Section 123 Evidence as to affairs of State
Section 124 Official communications
Section 125 Information as to commission of offences
Section 126 Professional communications
Section 127 Section 126 to apply to interpreters, etc
Section 128 Privilege not waived by volunteering evidence
Section 129 Confidential communications with legal advisers
Section 130 Production of title-deeds of witness not a party