By James Simons-
Six solicitors and two part-time judges are among nine people charged in relation to allegedly fraudulent legal aid claims made for over £12.6m. The charges follow a complex fraud team investigation, which began in December 2012 after HM Courts & Tribunals Service reported allegedly fraudulent applications for legal costs made to the National Taxation Team.
The charges relate to four claims made between January 2011 and September 2013.The Metropolitan Police say a total of £1.4m public funds were paid, and that in excess of £12.6m were made, all fraudulently.Solicitor and part-time immigration judge Kareena Maciel, 46, of South Woodford, London; barrister and part-time immigration judge Rasib Ghaffar, 48, of South Woodford, London; solicitor and part-time civil 47 year old judge Razi Shah, of Windsor, Berkshire; and 67 year old solicitor Joseph Ameyaw-Kyeremeh of Croydon, have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit an offence of fraud by false representation.
46 year old Solicitor Azhar Khan, of Pinner, Middlesex, has also been charged with one count of fraud by false representation and one count of conspiracy to commit an offence of fraud by false representation. 48 year old solicitor Lloyd Moody, of Surbiton, Surrey, has been charged with two counts of fraud by false representation. Solicitor Samira Bashir, 46, of Slough, Berkshire, has also been charged with one count of fraud by false representation.
Legal clerk Gazi Khan, 49, of Isleworth, Middlesex, and barrister Shahid Rashid, 57, of Langley, Berkshire, have been charged with three counts of fraud by false representation and one count of conspiracy to commit an offence of fraud by false representation. The charges are a big blow and disgrace to the law profession, but also go to show that nobody is above the law. The charges are an indication that The Crown Prosecution Service believe there is a strong likelihood of a conviction when the case goes to court next month.
They will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on 17 July.