A former trainee solicitor convicted of holding onto criminal funds has been barred from the profession by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Sakib Raza had begun his training contract with a London firm in December 2020 but resigned just four months into the job over a new criminal prosecution against him.
He was convicted of one count of conspiracy to conceal criminal property in September 2021.
The conviction related to matters which happened before he began his training contract and when he was working as a paralegal for another firm.
Raza was asked to provide his personal bank account details and online banking access by another individual, to which he agreed. This enabled money from criminal activity to be paid into his accounts. In return, Mr Raza received payment for allowing the use of his bank accounts.
In November 2022, Raza was sentenced to a community order for 18 months and order to perform up to 200 hours of unpaid work.
The SRA said the nature of his criminal conviction and the likely damage to public confidence in the legal profession required that he be barred from working for any regulated firm without permission.
‘Mr Raza’s conduct which led to his criminal conviction indicated a lack of judgment [sic],’ added the SRA. ‘Mitigating factors were considered including Mr Raza’s youth, relative inexperience and expressions of insight and remorse.
‘However, these factors did not overcome the risks presented to clients, client money, the public and the public’s trust in the provision of legal services.’
Raza was made subject to a section 43 notice and ordered to pay £600 costs.
