A second solicitor from Alum Rock based AKZ Solicitors has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Zia Latif was struck off at a hearing in a case brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Mr Latif admitted all the allegations against him, including failing to maintain properly written-up books of accounts and causing or permitting monies to be withdrawn from client bank accounts in breach of the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998.
Also that he gave false and misleading explanations to the SRA, practised as a solicitor without indemnity insurance cover and failed to deliver an accountant’s report.
In addition he admitted dishonesty in relation to the allegation by giving false and misleading explanations to the SRA.
As well as being struck off, he was also ordered to pay £22,500 costs.
In February this year Kamran Malik of AKZ Solicitors was sentenced to five years in prison in criminal proceedings at Birmingham Crown Court for four counts of money laundering, four counts of mortgage fraud, and one count of perverting the course of justice.
He was also struck off in September after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found his convictions meant he had failed to uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice.
Also that he failed to act with integrity and failed to behave in a way that maintained the trust the public placed in him and in the provision of legal services.
Gordon Ramsay, SRA director of legal and enforcement, said: “Solicitors hold positions of trust and Mr Latif abused that position. “He also made misleading statements, which was dishonest, and we don’t want dishonesty in the profession.
“The tribunal’s decision is entirely appropriate.”
