Maya Devani

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

Maya Devani, admitted as a solicitor on 1 November 2004, was an assistant solicitor at Arani & Co acting for a client charged with attempted murder and held in HMP Belmarsh. During a January 2005 prison visit she accepted a letter from the client containing instructions for fabricating exculpatory evidence and attempted to remove it from the prison. She was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of perverting the course of public justice and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. The Tribunal found the (uncontested) allegation substantiated and, given the seriousness, struck her off the Roll. It took into account her youth, recent qualification and personal circumstances when reducing costs. No express finding of dishonesty was made by the Tribunal.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage

Aggravating factors:

• Seriousness of the criminal offence of perverting the course of public justice
• Conviction and 12-month custodial sentence

Mitigating factors:

• Very young and newly qualified (admitted about one month before the offence)
• Offence was not planned in advance
• Respondent and family had already suffered greatly
• Tribunal questioned prudence of sending a young, newly qualified solicitor unaccompanied to a maximum security prison