Mina Panchal

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

The Respondent, admitted 1996, altered a final-pay cheque from her former employer Blatchfords from £415.52 to £1,415.52 and cashed it, later returning £1,000. She admitted the allegation, though claiming no memory of the act. The Tribunal found her actions dishonest. Given exceptional and tragic personal circumstances (her brother's suicide), it imposed indefinite suspension rather than striking off, leaving open the possibility of a future application to resume practice, plus costs of £1,410.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Cheque had been carefully altered to match the existing handwriting

Mitigating factors:

• Traumatic personal circumstances - suicide of her brother
• Out of character conduct with supporting references
• Relative youth and inexperience
• Full repayment of the money
• Genuine remorse and apology