Disgraced ex-mayor Lutfur Rahman could face a ban from practising as a lawyer following his removal from office for malpractice and corruption over his now-tainted 2014 re-election.
“There is a case for him to answer,” the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal confirmed this week
Allegations by the Solicitors Regulation Authority are being heard by the independent tribunal at a date to be fixed.
The Regulation Authority will have to show “the criminal standard of proof”.
The case against Rahman is that he was found personally guilty and guilty by his agents in an Election Court Judgment last April of illegal practice contrary to the Representation of the People Act, which listed seven counts of “corrupt practice”.
The Regulation Authority, the ruling body of solicitors, says this was “failing to uphold the rule of law and proper administration of justice” and that he “failed to act with integrity and maintaining public trust”, which it has to prove top the tribunal.
Rahman faces sanctions if the tribunal hearing goes against him, if “failing to uphold the law” and lacking “integrity” are proved.
These could include being struck from practising and unlimited fines.
Rahman already faces £500,000 legal bills from the High Court, still unpaid, from last April’s Election judgement. This has since resulted in his property assets in Bow and Whitechapel being frozen after he declared himself bankrupt.
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