The Independent Legal Services Commission has refused Doctor Muhammed Shamsud-Dean Sahu Khan’s application for a stay on the Commission’s decision to strike his name off the roll of legal practitioners earlier this week.

Doctor Sahu Khan had made a formal application however the notice of motion has been dismissed by Legal Services Commissioner Justice John Connors.

In his submission, Doctor Sahu Khan had indicated his intention to retire from legal practice and his desire to do that in an orderly fashion and asked that the stay be granted to facilitate an orderly handover of clients.

Commissioner Connors said he interprets the submission as a saving of face for Doctor Sahu Khan.

Doctor Sahu Khan had also submitted that it is his intention to prosecute the appeal with all due expedition and said that he would consent to an order requiring him to be supervised pending the winding down of his practice.

He also said that he is prepared to report on a regular basis to the Chief Registrar as to the steps taken to wind down the practice.

However, Commissioner Connors after considering all the factors refused the application a stay on the order.

The charge for which Doctor Sahu Khan was found guilty of, relates to him 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.

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.

Commissioner Connors has 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.

Fijivillage has contacted Doctor Sahu Khan but he said that he will not make any comments at this stage.


Story by: Vijay Narayan