(unnamed respondent)

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

Cyprian Amgbah, struck off in 2009 after 13 allegations including six of dishonesty (upheld by the High Court in 2010), applied 16 years later for restoration to the Roll. The Tribunal found the original dishonesty of the utmost gravity, presenting an almost insurmountable obstacle. While acknowledging positive rehabilitation steps and approved supervised employment since 2020, the Tribunal found the evidence of rehabilitation lacking in depth and documentary support, and that the high threshold for restoration was not met. The application was refused and the Applicant ordered to pay costs of £4,709.59.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No taking unfair advantage
• Segregate client money
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Diligence and timeliness
• Supervise staff and delegated work

Aggravating factors:

• Six allegations involving dishonesty found proved
• Dishonesty occurred over a protracted period involving premeditated and planned deception
• Breaches discovered by the SRA rather than through firm's compliance processes
• Failure to reference the unsuccessful High Court appeal in the restoration application

Mitigating factors:

• Application not premature - made around 16 years after strike off
• Undertook meaningful approved work in the profession since 2020
• No client complaints, no further regulatory action, no criminal convictions since strike off
• Compliance with SRA-imposed conditions on employment
• Expressed remorse and accepted responsibility
• Willing to accept conditions and supervision on any return