Sunil Mehra

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

The Respondent, admitted 1996, was convicted at Kingston Crown Court on his own confession of conspiracy to obtain money transfers by deception, having submitted fraudulent claims to the Legal Services Commission for interpreting services on behalf of ZM Interpreters, obtaining £24,386. He was sentenced to 52 weeks suspended for two years and ordered to pay £12,193 compensation. The Tribunal found the allegation of conduct unbefitting a solicitor substantiated, emphasised the seriousness of dishonesty during practice defrauding the Legal Aid Fund, and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £855.

Duties found breached:

• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty undertaken during the course of his practice as a solicitor
• Fraudulent claims made upon the Legal Aid Fund (public monies)
• Respondent appears to have left the country

Mitigating factors:

• Guilty plea on own confession
• Judge's sentencing remarks noting he was essentially honest but overcome with greed and under influence of co-defendant