Mohammed Arshad Amin

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

Mohammed Arshad Amin, sole director, COLP and COFA of Octagon Solicitors Limited, faced seven allegations relating to a client account shortage of £27,551.25, improper withdrawal of £16,000 to office account, failure to reconcile accounts, failure to co-operate with the SRA investigation, failure to perform orderly closure of the firm, and poor service to clients Ms A and Ms W. The hearing proceeded in his absence. The Tribunal found all allegations proved. Dishonesty was found proved for Allegation 1.2 (knowingly withdrawing £16,000 improperly) and Allegation 1.4 (deliberate failure to co-operate), but not proved for Allegation 1.1. Finding no exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £14,586.20.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Account for interest on client money
• Competence
• Orderly wind-down and contingency cover
• Cooperate openly with regulators

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty
• Misconduct was deliberate, calculated and repeated over a significant period
• Concealment of wrongdoing (Allegation 1.4)
• Sought to blame the bookkeeper
• Knew misconduct breached obligations to protect the public and profession's reputation
• Respondent was highly experienced and held roles of sole director, COLP and COFA
• Failure to arrange run-off insurance cover, telling broker he would 'take his chances'

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished career