Kengai Ponnampalam Chetty

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

Kengai Ponnampalam Chetty, a sole practitioner conveyancing solicitor, faced nine allegations arising from an SRA investigation in October 2010. The Tribunal found all allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt, including express findings of dishonesty on five allegations. The Respondent gave undertakings to discharge charges (Hoe Street, Devoran) with no intention of complying, released lender funds contrary to instructions (Gainford House), acted in transactions bearing hallmarks of fraud, certified a false passport, and paid over £760,000 to entities unconnected with the transactions before abandoning his practice and disappearing (believed to be in India). He did not attend or participate. The Tribunal ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs summarily assessed at £30,000 (reduced from the £39,141.28 claimed).

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper communication with the court
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty found in respect of five allegations
• Coldly calculating misconduct with high level of manipulation of circumstances to his own advantage
• Payment out of over £760,000 to entities unconnected with the transactions
• Abandonment of practice and 'going to ground'
• Accepted instructions on Devoran knowing he was about to sell premises and go on holiday for three weeks
• Substantial claims on the Compensation Fund
• Benefitted from failure to discharge charges on properties he owned
• Certified a passport as genuine when it was not

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary matters