Struck-off solicitor banned from business for 13 years
A BIRMINGHAM solicitor who was the sole designated member in a limited liability partnership has been disqualified from business for 13 years.
Omer Mohammed Ghanti has given an undertaking banning him from managing or controlling a company or being a director until 2024.
The disqualification, which takes effect from today, follows an investigation by The Insolvency Service’s Manchester-based Company Investigation team.
The Insolvency Service said its investigation found Cromwell Solicitors LLP was placed into administration in October 2007 with an estimated deficiency to creditors of £827,594.
The partnership was incorporated in November 2004 and traded from an office in Bennetts Hill, central Birmingham.
The Service said that, in signing the undertaking, Mr Ghanti did not dispute that he “caused Cromwell to transfer client account funds totalling £260,000 belonging to third parties” to another company in July 2007.
This was in breach of a professional undertaking given to another firm of solicitors to hold these funds to their order, it added.
Mr Ghanti was struck off as a solicitor by The Law Society in October 2009.
Claire Entwistle, director of Company Investigations North, said: “The fact Mr Ghanti has agreed to a 13-year disqualification should reassure the public when directors are found to have acted against the public interest, and in this case abused their professional position, The Insolvency Service will take action to impose sanctions against them.”
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