Omer Mohammed Ghanti

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

Omar Mohammed Ghanti, a solicitor admitted in 1997, faced allegations arising from an inspection revealing a client account shortage of £709,615.11. The Tribunal found allegation 4 proved with an express finding of dishonesty: he deliberately overcharged clients Mr and Mrs G, transferring £302,000 from client account for costs justifiable at only about £98,000. It found him grossly reckless (but not dishonest) on allegation 6, where £260,000 held to Band Hatton's order was transferred to an unknown company. Conflict of interest (allegation 5) and accounts rule breaches (allegation 1) were also proved. He was struck off and ordered to pay £85,000 costs, not enforceable without leave. His appeal was dismissed by the High Court.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberate overcharging of clients by approximately £169,000-£200,000
• Failure to make timely, honest and open disclosure to Band Hatton about missing funds
• Custodian of client funds - gross recklessness in signing transfer without reading it
• Large cash shortage of £709,615.11 identified
• Did not give oral evidence, preventing testing of explanations

Mitigating factors:

• 35 character references / positive good character
• Firm's difficulties caused by employee mortgage fraud and departure of key staff
• First Respondent's health problems
• Poor financial position