Yunus Agboola Alatise

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

The Respondent, a sole practitioner, received £30,000 from client Mr TS as a security deposit for a property purchase but paid it into office account and retained £10,000 for his own business expenses, falsely claiming it was a personal loan. The Tribunal rejected the loan account, accepting Mr TS as a reliable witness, and found the documentary evidence consistently showed the full £30,000 was intended as a security deposit. Applying the Twinsectra test, the Tribunal found the Respondent dishonest in respect of the £10,000. Allegations 1.1 (failure to remedy breaches, including £20,103 shortage covering Mr TS and Mr TK monies) and 1.2 (failure to pay client money into client account) were found proved. Allegation 1.3 (breach of Rule 17.4) was dismissed as the Tribunal was not sure beyond reasonable doubt the failure constituted a Rule 17.4 breach, and a late amendment to Rule 14.1 was refused. The Respondent was struck off and ordered to pay £12,000 costs. His appeal to the High Court was dismissed with £5,500 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Prompt accounting and return of money

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty found proved
• Conduct was deliberate
• Fabricated a loan story to conceal his actions
• More than one client suffered loss (Mr TS and Mr TK)
• Failed to recognise material breach of obligations to protect public and reputation of profession