Shahan Shah Sarmad Khan

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

An assistant solicitor at Aaronson & Co received client monies (two cash payments and one cheque paid into his personal account) totalling £1,200 in 2001 that were never entered in the firm's books. He claimed he passed funds to one of three colleagues, all of whom denied receiving them and contradicted his account of office procedures. The Tribunal, applying Twinsectra, found allegation (ii) of misappropriation/dishonesty substantiated and allegation (i) substantiated. For allegation (iii) (misleading declaration on his roll-removal application), the Tribunal could not be certain he received the Adjudicator's notification letter, so dishonesty was NOT established; it was substantiated only as acting contrary to his position as a solicitor. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay fixed costs of £16,392.69.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty involving clients' money
• Falsely attributed blame to three named colleagues, all of whom denied his account
• Failed to respond to The Law Society and did not attend the hearing