Excellent Sentencing Result in Fraud / Breach of Trust Case

Another stunning result for Leila Abdul-Rasool, whose client was given a suspended sentence with supervision at Southwark Crown Court on 4 January 2010 for false accounting.

There was a breach of trust as she was a secretary at a West End law firm, tasked with clearing the balances on a number of files that needed to be deaded. The allegation was that she drew up a number of cheque requests to pay disbursements i.e. counsel’s fees, yet the payees were not counsel but her boyfriend and a relative of her elderly neighbour. There were also other neighbours to whom money was paid.

The Crown accepted a plea on a limited basis. The amount stolen was in excess of £90,000.00 however she pleaded to false accounting of approximately £70,000.00.

The client was originally arrested about four years ago and was released on bail for a year and a half before being charged. She was made subject to a restraint order upon the application of her previous employers.

Counsel was Neelam Sharma of 187 Fleet Street.