Lawyers, law firm charged under decree

October 28, 2009 07:27:13 AM

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Two Fiji lawyers and a law firm have been charged with breaches of the Legal Practitioners Decree 2009.
 
Abhay Singh of AK Singh Lawyers and Hemendra Nagin of Sherani and Company face 12 allegations of breaches while Nagin faces nine.

The law firm of Sherani and Company has also been charged.
 
A statement from the Attorney-General’s Office said the charges range from allegations of professional misconduct and or unsatisfactory professional conduct to unsatisfactory professional conduct “in that the legal practitioner substantially failed to reach a reasonable standard of competence and diligence to conduct of a legal practitioner occurring in connection with the practice of law”.

Singh’s application for a deferred hearing on medical grounds and the need for time to prepare have been turned down by Commissioner, Justice John Connors.

Justice Connors said that the hearing date was accepted by Singh in the presence of his counsel. He added that in light of the seriousness of the complaints, one of which had taken place some six years ago and in the public interest, it was best that the case be resolved in a timely manner.

The cases were first called on October 20, 2009.

Singh’s case was fixed for hearing on November 3 and 4, 2009 while the hearing for Nagin and Sherani and Company’s case will be held on December 14 and 15, 2009.

Chief Registrar Ana Rokomokoti is prosecuting the matters.

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