Ibrar Ahmed

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

Ibrar Ahmed, a solicitor's clerk (non-solicitor) formerly employed by Riaz Solicitors, had conduct of an immigration matter for clients Mr and Mrs B. A £750 cheque sent for a Home Office fee was mislaid and used in error on another file; the Respondent then used his wife's personal cheque to pay the fee, which was not honoured for insufficient funds, causing the application to be rejected. He failed to inform his employer, took the file to his next firm without authority, and initially failed to respond to the SRA. The Tribunal found a regulatory s.43 order appropriate, while noting he had repaid costs, the Home Office fee and £750 compensation, and stressing he should not be prevented from continuing as an immigration advisor. No dishonesty was found. He was ordered to pay £3,000 costs.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Failed to tell his employer of the loss of the cheque
• Used a personal cheque without authority
• Took the file to his next firm without authority
• Adverse consequences for Mrs K and Mr and Mrs B
• Failed to reply to the SRA's enquiry

Mitigating factors:

• First complaint in ten years working as an immigration advisor
• Never sought to take money from a client or use it for personal use
• Repaid all costs, the Home Office fee and £750 compensation to the complainants
• Apologised to the Tribunal
• Tribunal noted the order was not punishment and he should be allowed to continue as an immigration advisor