Prominent lawyer Doctor Muhammed Shamsud-Dean Sahu Khan has been disbarred by the Independent Legal Services Commission.

Legal Services Commissioner John Connors has ordered in the last hour that Doctor Sahu Khan’s name be struck off from the roll of legal practitioners after he was found guilty of professional misconduct.

The charge relates to Doctor Sahu Khan executing a Deed of Indemnity and Guarantee with a Sashi Kiran Pratap, which provided that Sahu Khan would arrange at his own cost a loan of $120,000 for Pratap to pay one Mohammed Farouk Ali, who was Sahu Khan’s client, when Pratap had already paid the sum of $130,000 for the same piece of land which was owned by a Ambika Nand.

In exchange for this, Pratap agreed to provide Sahu Khan with her authority to take action for damages against the Registrar of Titles and/or the Attorney General.

However, Sahu Khan then initiated civil proceedings in the Ba Magistrates Court against Pratap for failing to pay the loan amount and interest to the respective lenders after the civil suit against the Registrar of Titles and the Attorney General was dismissed.

While delivering his ruling today, Commissioner Connors ordered that Doctor Sahu Khan is to pay all principal and interest owing on the $120,000 loan within 28 days.

He also has to pay witness expenses of $478 to the Commission within 28 days and is to lodge his passport with the Commission within 24 hours for retention until the payment orders are complied with. 
 
Commissioner Connors said Doctor Sahu Khan’s conduct justify a finding that he is not a fit and proper person to engage in legal practice.

He said in a country such as Fiji where the literacy and understanding is not as high as in developed countries, the position is even more special and the responsibilities are even greater.

Commissioner Connors said young lawyers must also be made to realize that this type of conduct is not acceptable.

Following the orders, Doctor Sahu Khan asked the Commissioner that he wants to apply for a stay on the ruling.

Commissioner Connors told him that he has to take the matter to the Appeals Court and the Commission’s ruling stands.


Story by: Vijay Narayan and Shalvin Deo