A solicitor who broke legal rules by ‘foolishly’ a
A solicitor who broke legal rules by ‘foolishly’ allowing a sex offender to have a video copy of his victim’s police interview was suspended for six months today.
(Tues)
Iqbal Singh Chohan, 44, breached a legal promise to ensure no copies were made of the sensitive material
and make sure it was locked away at all times.
But the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal in central London heard several copies were produced after the tape was left lying around in Chohan’s office.
One even ended up in the possession of the convicted man’s mother, the hearing was told.
Another firm of solicitors who were handling the appeal for the defendant, referred to as Mr M, then complained to West Mercia police when they got the tape.
Chohan had been under a legal duty to return the recording to the police himself, the hearing was told.
The force then referred the matter to the Law Society.
Mr M, an Italian national, was jailed for three and a half years at Shrewsbury Crown Court in December 2001 for two serious sex offences against the 12-year-old.
The blunder happened as Chohan worked as a partner for Dickinson Parker Hill, based in Derby Street, Ormskirk, Lancs.
He now works for law firm Nadim and Associates, in Thorpe Park, North Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside.
Chohan, appeared at the hearing to admit breaching an undertaking.
He was found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor.
Ian Ryan, for the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors, said that Chohan’s trainee had produced copies of the tape after Mr M’s barrister had asked for one.
Another copy was found after Chohan was clearing out his room.
Mr Ryan said: ‘He allowed and permitted copies of the video tape to be made and he did not follow the terms of the undertaking.
‘The mischief and gravamen here is there was copies of the video lying around which could have led to the identification of the complainant.
‘Clearly it is a serious breach of an undertaking.
‘
Chohan told the hearing he had meant to keep proper control of the tape.
‘I’m clearly very sorry I did not.
‘
Chohan said he had signed the legal undertaking while in court without checking the conditions properly.
‘I did, foolishly, yes,’ he told the tribunal.
Chohan maintained he did not know copies had been made.
‘It was not something I was aware of beforehand,’ he added.
Notu Noon, defending, said: ‘This was partly due to the enormous work pressure he was placed under.
‘This is a single isolated incident which is unlikely to ever be repeated again.
‘He can offer no explanation how Mr M or members of his family came into possession of a copy.
‘
Suspending Chohan for six months ,tribunal chairman Jeremy Barnecutt said the committee took a ‘grave view’ of the error because it involved a child.
Mr Barnecutt added: ‘Breaches of undertaking not only damage the reputation of the profession but also can have devastating consequences on the public.
‘In this case there is a child whose need for protection is even greater.
He had a duty to protect the child in this case.
‘
Chohan was ordered to pay costs of pnds stlg 1,750.
ends
