A total of nine counts of alleged professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct have been laid against three lawyers, Mehboob Raza, Vipul Mishra and Dr Samshud-Dean Sahu Khan.

The case was called for mention today before Independent Legal Services Commissioner John Connors.

It is alleged that the first lawyer Vipul Mishra, between April 11th 2006 and October 22nd 2006, failed to tell his client that a particular piece of land in Nukudrala, Ba, was under mortgage to FDB as he had received correspondence from the lawyers.

It is then alleged that Mishra and his client entered into a sale agreement with Mehboob Raza and his client regarding the same piece of land in Ba.

The Chief Registrar alleged that Raza did not protect his client's interest as he did not conduct a thorough check on the said piece of land, and if he had done so he would have discovered that there was a caveat and mortgage on that particular piece of land.

Meanwhile, Dr Sahu Khan and Sahu Khan's law firm, Sahu Khan and Sahu Khan, is also charged with one count of professional misconduct in relation to the same case, for allegedly entering into a deed with the complainant where she was to pay their client $120,000 even though she had paid the money to another person.

It is alleged that on March 12th 2008, Sahu Khan entered into an agreement with the complainant where he would guarantee a loan of $120,000 to be paid to his client who also had a claim on the same piece of land.
 
Under the deed, Sahu Khan was to take civil action against the Registrar of Titles and the Attorney General with regards to delays in registration of the said piece of land.

However, when the case was thrown out of court, Sahu Khan is alleged to have taken the complainant to court in Ba, saying that she did not repay the loan.

It is alleged that under the deed of payment that he had entered into with the complainant, Sahu Khan would arrange at his own cost for the $120,000 loan and he would take full responsibility.

Vipul Mishra has been charged with three counts of professional misconduct, Mehboob Raza with two counts, Sahu Khan with three counts, while Sahu Khan and Sahu Khan law firm with one count.

The matter has been set for hearing from the 16th to the 23rd of November.


Story by: Paradise Tabucala & Ana Naisoro