Mohammed Zahir Uddin

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

Mohammed Zahir Uddin, sole director/owner of Your Right Solicitors Ltd, faced eight allegations all of which were found proved. He abandoned his practice in November 2015, made 39 round sum transfers totalling £58,900 from client to office account, failed to keep proper accounting records, retained office money in client account, and failed to remedy breaches. He dishonestly transferred £20,000 of client money to his personal bank account in Bangladesh and then disappeared. He also misled the SRA's investigator about accounting records left with a former secretary (Ms B) and told her to ignore the SRA's requests. The Tribunal found express dishonesty applying the Twinsectra test. He did not engage and the hearing proceeded in his absence. Finding no exceptional circumstances (per SRA v Sharma), the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £14,500.

Duties found breached:

• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper communication with the court
• No improper use of client money
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Segregate client money

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest conduct
• Likely financial losses to clients
• Accounts breaches over a long period
• Deliberate and calculated misleading of regulator and attempts to prevent information being provided
• Abandoned the firm placing clients and their funds at risk
• Ought to have known conduct breached obligations to protect public and reputation of profession

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished record