SDT: Certified solicitor has a case to answer
A solicitor whose firm was one of three shut down a year ago after being named in a Daily Mail undercover investigation is to face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has also refused Muhammad Nazar Hayat’s application for a practising certificate, saying his conduct “poses a risk to the public interest”.
The newspaper claimed that various lawyers had offered to help an undercover reporter concoct a story to support an asylum claim.
Amid huge political and media pressure last July, the SRA said it had closed the firms after receiving the recordings and transcripts from the newspaper.
The firms were Rashid & Rashid in south-west London, Kingswright Solicitors in Birmingham and Lincoln Lawrence in west London.
It suspended the practising certificates of their principals, respectively Rashid Khan, Muhammad Ahmad and Mr Hayat.
The decision to prosecute Mr Hayat at the SDT was taken in January but a notice only published yesterday by the SRA, a delay that reflects in part the time needed for the tribunal to certify that he has a case to answer.
The allegations “are or include” that Mr Hayat, “on or around 18 May 2023, advised a person he believed to be a prospective client to provide a false narrative in support of an asylum claim within the United Kingdom”.
The allegations are as yet unproven.
Another notice published yesterday, although the decision was taken in March, said Lincoln Lawrence had been closed because “there was reason to suspect dishonesty on Mr Hayat’s part in connection with his practice as a solicitor and as a manager of the firm in connection with the firm’s business. Also because of Mr Hayat’s and the firm’s failure to comply with SRA rules”.
It continued: “Without prejudice to any other matters or issues, Mr Hayat’s application for a practising certificate for the practice year 2023/2024 has been refused.
“Mr Hayat’s conduct poses a risk to the public interest and the trust the public places in the provision of legal services.”
Earlier this year, Rashid Khan’s application for a practising certificate was refused on the same grounds.
It is not known whether he and Mr Ahmad are being referred to the SDT as well.
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