Barrister Ahtiq Raja was ordered to be disbarred by an independent disciplinary tribunal which concluded on 17 November 2022 following a charge of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). The Tribunal ordered that the disbarment shall take effect within 14 days and also ordered Mr Raja to pay the BSB £1,560 in respect of their costs.
The tribunal’s decision follows Mr Raja dishonestly retaining an overpayment of gift aid to his charity in the sum of £238,787.50 made on 11 May 2017. For this he was convicted before the Crown Court sitting at Northampton on 31 October 2019 and sentenced on 14 January 2020.
The tribunal found that Mr Raja behaved in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession and took the unanimous view that Mr Raja should be disbarred.
Commenting on the order, a BSB spokesperson said: “It is essential that the public can place their trust in barristers and that they act with honesty and integrity at all times. Acting in such a dishonest way which led to a criminal conviction is therefore a very serious matter for a barrister and the tribunal’s decision to disbar Mr Raja reflects this.”
The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Ahtiq Raja
Ahtiq Raja was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln's Inn in October 2007.
About disciplinary tribunals
The Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS) is responsible for appointing and administering Disciplinary Tribunals on behalf of the President of the Council of the Inns of Court and its tribunals are independent of the BSB. The BSB is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers, which BTAS tribunal panels then adjudicate. The sanctions imposed are a matter for the tribunal having regard to the facts of the individual case and the BTAS Sanctions Guidance.
About the Bar Standards Board
Our mission is to regulate barristers and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. For more information about what we do visit: http://bit.ly/1gwui8t
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