G B Vasudeven

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

The respondent, instructed to commence bankruptcy proceedings against a debtor, instead secretly contacted the debtor and then deceived his own client for months into believing proceedings were afoot. He created fictitious court documents and affidavits, forged the Supreme Court's electronic seal, and forged a Commissioner for Oaths' signature and stamp. The DT found three charges of grossly improper conduct made out. The Court of Three Judges found due cause and, given the strikingly dishonest conduct falling within categories in Chia Choon Yang, ordered the respondent struck off the roll, with costs awarded to the Law Society.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Prolonged deception of client between August and November 2016
• Acting contrary to client's instructions and without client's knowledge
• Forging court seal and Commissioner for Oaths signatures/stamps, violating obligations as an officer of the court
• Grave violation of trust between solicitor and client

Mitigating factors:

• Pleaded guilty to two of the charges
• Accepted his conduct gave due cause for disciplinary action and agreed he should be struck off