Lautoka Lawyer Haroon Ali Shah has been found guilty of professional misconduct by the Independent Legal Services Commission today.

The Chief Registrar brought the matter to the Independent Legal Services Commission in relation to a case in June 2005 where Shah was convicted and fined for offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and damaging property at the Lautoka Magistrates court and fined $1,500.

The facts of the case were derived from the records of the Magistrate's court where Haroon Ali Shah assaulted Saten Singh after disagreement between the two in the premises of Lautoka High court.

Shah was representing Singh's father in a case.

Commissioner John Conners in his ruling said although the injuries were not serious and the damage was not great but it is not possible to lose sight of the fact that that a lawyer, an officer of the court, assaulted a party to the proceedings in the precint of the court.

Commissioner Conners said that he is of the opinion that the conduct of Haroon Ali Shah justified a finding that he was not a fit and a proper person to engage in legal practice and therefore he found him guilty of professional misconduct.

The matter has been adjourned to later this afternoon for mitigation and to hear submissions as to the penalty that should be imposed.


Story by: Shalvin Deo