Mohammed Arshad Amin

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Mohammed Arshad Amin, sole director, COLP, COFA and MLRO of Octagon Solicitors Limited, faced seven allegations including a £27,551.25 client account shortage (Allegation 1.1), improper withdrawal of £16,000 from client account (allegedly to pay a VAT bill) (Allegation 1.2), failure to reconcile accounts, failure to cooperate with the SRA, failure to perform an orderly closure of the firm, and failure to provide proper service to clients Ms A and Ms W. Dishonesty was advanced as an aggravating feature for Allegations 1.1, 1.2 and 1.4. The Respondent did not attend and the Tribunal proceeded in his absence. In the available (truncated) text, the Tribunal found Allegations 1.1 and 1.2 proved, including breaches of Principle 2 (lack of integrity) per Wingate. The text cuts off before the dishonesty findings and sanction. Note: an unpaid run-off premium of £23,167.20 to Travelers Insurance was referenced.

Duties found breached:

• Account for interest on client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• No improper use of client money
• Proper basis for allegations