Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to hear case against ex-mayor of Tower Hamlets next week

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal will next week hear a prosecution brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority against Lutfur Rahman, the former mayor of Tower Hamlets Council.

The SDT has certified that there is a case to answer “in respect of allegations which are or include that:

1.1. By a Judgment of an Election Court dated 23 April 2015, he [Rahman] was found personally guilty and guilty by his agents of:

a) an illegal practice, contrary to s.106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 ("The 1983 Act");

b) a corrupt practice, contrary to s.113 of The 1983 Act;

c) a corrupt practice, contrary to s.115 of The 1983 Act; and thereby he failed to:

1.1.1. uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice;

1.1.2. act with integrity;

1.1.3. behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in him and in the provision of legal services.

1.2. By a Judgment of an Election Court dated 23 April 2015, he was found guilty by his agents of:

a) corrupt practices, contrary to s.60 of the 1983 Act;

b) corrupt practices, contrary to s.62A of the 1983 Act;

c) illegal practices, contrary to s.13D(1) of the 1983 Act;

d) illegal practices, contrary to s.61(1)(a) of the 1983 Act;

e) illegal practices, contrary to s.111 of the 1983 Act; and thereby he failed to:

1.2.1. uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice;

1.2.2. behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in him and the provision of legal services.

1.3. His evidence to the Election Court attracted adverse criticism from the Court and thereby he failed to:

1.3.1. uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice;

1.3.2. act with integrity;

1.3.3. behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in him and the provision of legal services.”

The allegations are subject to the hearing before the SDT and are as yet unproven.

The hearing will take place from 7-10 March.