Decision record
Li Zhongsheng
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
The Law Society applied under ss 94A(1) and 98(1) of the LPA for the respondent, an advocate and solicitor admitted in 2021, to be sanctioned following his conviction for cheating under s 417 of the Penal Code. He had misappropriated a credit card left in a private hire vehicle and used it to make purchases totalling $4,349, deceiving a store operator; two other charges were taken into consideration. He was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment. The Court of 3 Supreme Court Judges held that due cause was shown, dishonesty was integral to the cheating offence, and the presumptive sanction of striking off applied with no exceptional facts to depart. The respondent was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of $5,000.
Duties found breached:
Mitigating factors:
- Made full restitution of amounts cheated
- Apologised and pleaded guilty
- Readily accepted he should be struck off
- Seeking and receiving regular psychiatric treatment and therapy
- Completed a course to address workplace stressors