Lutfur Rahman, the disgraced ex-mayor of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and former solicitor, has been struck off the roll of solicitors and slapped with a costs order of £86,400.
In 2015 the Election Commissioner found Rahman guilty of fraud and corruption in the 2014 mayoral elections. The court ruled at the time that Rahman had perpetrated voter fraud by buying votes with council grants and registering "ghost voters". He had also lied about other candidates and those that opposed him, falsely accusing one of racism. Rahman was stripped of his position as mayor.
The SRA subsequently charged Rahman with failing to act with integrity, failing to maintain public trust and failing to uphold the rule of law and administration of justice. Rahman managed to delay the SRA's proceedings for two years on the basis of a pending judicial review of the Election Court decision. The case was eventually brought before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in December 2017, despite a further application by Rahman for an adjournment. Rahman declined to be represented or attend the tribunal hearing himself. The SDT's judgment was published on 18 January.
Edward Levey of Fountain Court Chambers, representing the SRA, argued at the hearing that the SDT should "attach considerable weight" to the previous findings of the Election Court, even though it was not technically binding. He said those proceedings were investigated in "immense detail" over a seven week trial.
The tribunal noted that Rahman alleged that the Election Court was prejudiced against him, but found that there was no evidence to support those allegations. The tribunal held that Rahman's dishonesty had been "proved" and that his conduct "was a complete departure from the standards expected of a solicitor". It added that his misconduct was "deliberate, calculated and repeated".
The three-person tribunal found Rahman liable on all counts brought by the SRA and struck him off the roll.
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In 2015 the Election Commissioner found Rahman guilty of fraud and corruption in the 2014 mayoral elections. The court ruled at the time that Rahman had perpetrated voter fraud by buying votes with council grants and registering "ghost voters". He had also lied about other candidates and those that opposed him, falsely accusing one of racism. Rahman was stripped of his position as mayor.
The SRA subsequently charged Rahman with failing to act with integrity, failing to maintain public trust and failing to uphold the rule of law and administration of justice. Rahman managed to delay the SRA's proceedings for two years on the basis of a pending judicial review of the Election Court decision. The case was eventually brought before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in December 2017, despite a further application by Rahman for an adjournment. Rahman declined to be represented or attend the tribunal hearing himself. The SDT's judgment was published on 18 January.
Edward Levey of Fountain Court Chambers, representing the SRA, argued at the hearing that the SDT should "attach considerable weight" to the previous findings of the Election Court, even though it was not technically binding. He said those proceedings were investigated in "immense detail" over a seven week trial.
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Rahman in happier times |
The tribunal noted that Rahman alleged that the Election Court was prejudiced against him, but found that there was no evidence to support those allegations. The tribunal held that Rahman's dishonesty had been "proved" and that his conduct "was a complete departure from the standards expected of a solicitor". It added that his misconduct was "deliberate, calculated and repeated".
The three-person tribunal found Rahman liable on all counts brought by the SRA and struck him off the roll.