Two more solicitors have been charged in relation to the immigration sting carried out by the Daily Mail last summer.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority revealed today that it had decided to prosecute Rashid Ahmad Khan and Muhammed Azfar Ahmad, both of whom had been suspended in July 2023.
Khan, from Wimbledon firm Rahid & Rashid Law Firm, is alleged to have given advice in May 2023 which ‘encouraged a ‘false narrative to be put forward in support of an asylum claim’.
Ahmad, who worked for Kingswright Solicitors in Birmingham, is also alleged to have advised a prospective client to provide a false narrative in support of an asylum claim, as well as to have advised them to enter into a false marriage to regulate their immigration status.
The allegations against both individuals are subject to a hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven.
The SRA shut down Rashid & Rashid and Kingswright Solicitors – plus one other firm – following the Mail’s undercover story which included video appearing to show solicitors coaching a prospective client about the best ways to secure asylum.
Following the newspaper’s investigation, SRA chair Anna Bradley said: ‘We very much agree that public trust and confidence is fundamental to a strong and healthy legal profession and, like you, we were shocked by the apparent behaviour of those solicitors identified by the Daily Mail recently.’
The SRA also suspended the practising certificates of solicitors Khan, Ahmad and Muhammad Hayat. The regulator confirmed last month it would pursue a prosecution against Hayat.
Both Khan and Ahmad were subsequently denied after applying for a practising certificate renewal, with the SRA deciding that their alleged conduct posed a risk to the reputation of the profession.
In January, Khan failed with a complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation about two articles, headlined ‘Lawyers charging up to £10,000 to make fake asylum claims’ and ‘Don’t admit you came here to work – they will send you back’.
