Sarfraz Sadiq

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

The Respondent, a non-solicitor employed as a paralegal and book keeper/accounts assistant at Injury Specialists Solicitors Ltd, dishonestly misappropriated £74,654.53 from his employer by cashing office account cheques and intercepted costs cheques through cheque cashing agents in Luton, and by issuing duplicate disbursement cheques without entering them in the ledgers to conceal the thefts. He admitted cashing the cheques. The Tribunal applied the Twinsectra test and found dishonesty proved. The Respondent did not attend. The Tribunal made a section 43(2) order and ordered costs subject to detailed assessment.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Misappropriation of a substantial sum (£74,654.53)
• Conduct involved concealment to avoid discovery
• Conduct caused serious damage to the reputation of the profession
• Respondent could not be trusted and posed a risk to the public
• Failure to engage with the Tribunal or attend the hearing