A solicitor who knew his client was paying too much for a property has been struck off.
Milan Patel, who was sole director of ALD Legal Solicitors in Harrow, was instructed by a client in Saudi Arabia to buy a UK property on his behalf.
A sub-sale transaction took place on the day of completion, where the property was transferred from the seller to a firm called HB Consultants for £438,000.
The client, unaware of this transaction, then immediately bought the property from HB Consultants for £500,000.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal noted that HB was Patel’s business partner and a client of the law firm, the Law Gazette has reported.
The tribunal found that Patel had shown “flagrant disregard” for his client’s best interests, and that his conduct was dishonest.
Comments (3)
“The tribunal found that Patel had shown “flagrant disregard” for his client’s best interests…”
Interesting – seeing as BOTH PARTIES were the firm’s “clients”, they were clearly acting in the best interests of one of them…
On the face of it a flagrant fraud. Amazed this has not led to a criminal charge.
Why only Struck Off? Surely, investigated, arrested and then charged is what is needed here.