A former Cardiff solicitor who was kicked out of t

A former Cardiff solicitor who was kicked out of the profession for mortgage fraud failed in his appeal to practise law again today.

(Tues)

Gurmit Singh Randhawa, 49, was struck off after he received a suspended jail sentence for offences of dishonesty.

But Randhawa returned to the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal in London today (Tues) to plead for a chance to return to work as a lawyer.

His barrister Crispin Aylett said he was convicted of one charge of theft and three counts of conspiracy to defraud in November 1996 after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

He received a nine month jail sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling pnds stlg 30,000.

In December 1997 Randhawa was struck off by the Law Society for bringing the profession into disrepute.

The criminal offences had occured while running his own firm Fisher McCarthy Randhawa, of Victoria House, Tudor St, Riverside, Cardiff.

When he was struck off for bringing the profession into disrepute in December 1997 he had taken the helm of GS Randhawa, which he ran from the same office.

The theft charge revealed Randhawa had stolen pnds stlg 492 of money from a client.

Today Randhawa, who runs his own property portfolio bringing in pnds stlg 300,000 a year in rental income, told the tribunal: ‘I cherish law.

I built up my career in law.

‘I have a considerable reputation in the locality.

I want to go back.

I think I’m an asset to the community and want to do my best to do that.

‘

The hearing was told Randhawa, also a sub-postmaster, had been appointed to the Social Security Appeal Tribunal by the Law Chancellor in 1987.

But his conviction for dishonesty forced his retirement from the prestigious body.

The hearing was told Randhawa remains an influential figure among the ethnic communities in Cardiff.

But the disgraced lawyer became embroiled in controversy for taking monthly payments of pnds stlg 500 from his old law firm in consultancy fees after his expulsion from the profession.

In July this year his nephew Surinder Randhawa was suspended from practice for three months by another tribunal for employing his uncle.

Edward Edwards, another partner was suspended for three months and Brian Dunleavy banned for one month for the same offence of hiring a struck-off solicitor.

Tribunal chairman Anthony Isaacs told Randhawa today: ‘Well Mr Randhawa we have considered your application but I’m afraid we are wholly unconvinced that for the good of the profession we should make an order for restoration to the Roll.

‘In the circumstances we must reject your application.

‘

Randhawa was also ordered to pay costs, to be assessed if not agreed at a later date.

ends