Ibrar Ahmed

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

Ibrar Ahmed, a solicitor's clerk employed by Riaz Solicitors, was found to have mislaid a £750 client cheque intended for a Home Office application fee and, unable to locate it, used a personal (his wife's) cheque which was not honoured, causing the immigration application to be rejected. He failed to inform his employer, took the file when he left, and did not reply to the SRA. The Tribunal made a s.43(2) order requiring Law Society permission for his employment in a legal practice, but stressed this was regulatory rather than punitive and did not preclude him continuing as an immigration advisor. No dishonesty was found. He was ordered to pay £3,000 costs.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Failed to tell his employer of the loss of the cheque
• Used a personal cheque without authority which was not honoured
• Took the client file to his next firm without authority
• Failed to reply to the SRA's request for explanation
• Consequences of his actions for Mrs K and Mr and Mrs B

Mitigating factors:

• First complaint in ten years working as an immigration advisor
• Repaid all costs, the Home Office fee and £750 compensation to complainants
• Apologised to the Tribunal
• No intention to take money for personal use