A solicitor has been disbarred after submitting false time records to claim a substantial bonus. Samina Ahmed, aged 46, was removed from the roll of solicitors by the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal for inflating her working hours, including claiming to have worked 28 hours in a single day. Ahmed, who had a 17-year tenure at Tucker Solicitors, was found to have regularly manipulated her timesheets in pursuit of a potential bonus of up to £70,000.
The tribunal’s investigation revealed that Ahmed recorded over 7,511 hours across 266 days between July 2021 and June 2022. This figure averages out to more than 28 hours each day, a clear impossibility. Despite being warned during a staff meeting about her fraudulent practices, she continued to submit inflated hours, ultimately resulting in her dismissal.
Legal and Financial Consequences
The tribunal noted that Ahmed’s actions undermined public trust in the legal profession. They stated, “In so doing she had failed to uphold public trust and confidence in the profession.” As a legal aid solicitor, her work was funded by the Legal Aid Agency, which amounted to £98,093 that Tucker Solicitors is now liable to repay due to the fraudulent claims.
The tribunal imposed a financial penalty, originally set at £49,600, but was reduced to £5,000 considering Ahmed’s current financial situation. She is now employed as an apprentice with Wigan Council and has expressed that her income is insufficient to cover her living expenses. Ahmed is a single parent of three children and currently receives universal credit and child benefits.
The tribunal’s ruling reflects the severe nature of Ahmed’s misconduct, branding her actions as dishonest and devoid of integrity. They highlighted the foreseeable harm her actions could cause to the reputation of the legal profession and stated that the penalty of being struck off is both fair and proportionate.
Ahmed’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical conduct in the legal field. The tribunal’s decision underscores the commitment to maintaining integrity within the profession and protecting public confidence in legal practitioners.
