Lawyers and law firm in the dock

A law firm and two lawyers are facing charges relating to breaches of the Legal Practitioners Decree.

The Decree, enforced earlier this year, obliges legal practitioners to follow a code of conduct and observe professional behaviour and standards.

Public Prosecutor Chief Registrar Ana Rokomokoti is prosecuting Sherani & Co and lawyers Abhay Singh (represented by legal counsel Mehboob Raza) and Hemendra Nagin (self-represented).

According to available information, the two lawyers face respectively 12 and nine allegations of breaches.

“These charges vary in nature and severity. Allegations range from professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct to unsatisfactory professional conduct.

“The legal practitioners substantially failed to reach a reasonable standard of competence and diligence,” a notification said and suggested that the breaches in the two cases relate to sections 81, 82 and 83 of the Legal Practitioners Decree 2009.

The cases were first taken up on October 20 October with the case against Mr Singh posted to November 3 and 4 and that of Mr Nagin to December 14 and 15.

“The cases were again called for mention on October 23. Mr Singh had made an application for a deferred hearing on medical grounds and the need for time to prepare. Commissioner John Connors declined the application, saying that Mr Singh had accepted the date earlier.

He added that in light of the seriousness of the complaints, one of which had taken place some six years ago and in the public interest, it was best that the case be resolved in a timely manner.