The board of directors of the Quebec Bar Association has decided to go against the wishes of its members and uphold the suspension of its president Lu Chan Khuong.

It's a decision supported by four former Quebec premiers, namely Lucier Bouchard, Bernard Landry, Daniel Johnson and Pierre-Marc Johnson. 

The former leaders, all lawyers, co-wrote a statement that appears in Droit Inc., a journal for lawyers, in which they argue that ethical considerations are of the utmost importance, and that the court case involving Khuong should reveal exactly what has happened -- and if she is innocent, to prove her innocence.

"It should escape no one's attention that these responsibilities demand, in life and in the public eye, from anyone who wishes to hold these posts, an exemplary ethical conduct," wrote the premiers.

Khuong was suspended July 1 after it was revealed in the media she had been the subject of a shoplifting complaint in April 2014 at a Simons department store in Laval.

The incident was considered a non-judicial offence, so there were no criminal charges and no trial. The file was supposed to stay confidential, but once the alleged shoplifting incident became public, the board of directors at the bar suspended her.

The bar's lawyer also said there is evidence linking Khuong to a second alleged offence at a Quebec City store.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Bar’s administration council said that the reintegration of its president into office would not correct the current situation.In a general meeting last Monday, close to 1,000 members of the Bar voted 68.5 per cent in favour of reinstating Khuong. In another vote, 89 per cent were in favour of an investigation into the leaked information that led to her suspension.

On Friday, Quebec Superior Court Justice Michel Beaupre rejected an application by Lu Chan Khuong to be reinstated immediately as head of the order.

Khuong is fighting her suspension in court and seeking $95,000 in damages from nine board members who suspended her.

Those members in turn filed a $90,000 lawsuit against Khuong for allegedly damaging their reputation.

Khuong was elected president of the association in May.

With files from The Canadian Press