Charged with fraud, lawyer who hounded British troops

DISGRACED human rights lawyer Phil Shiner will appear in court accused of fraud over claims made against Iraq war veterans.

The former boss of the now-defunct Public Interest Lawyers is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ court on Monday to face three counts of fraud after a five-year probe by the National crime agency (Nca).

Shiner, 65, was struck off by the Solicitors regulation authority in 2017 after claiming British troops unlawfully killed and tortured Iraqis.

his firm was behind the majority of the 3,380 claims received by the Iraq historic allegations Team, the organisation set up to review and investigate allegations of abuse of civilians by UK armed Forces personnel in Iraq.

Shiner, pictured, claimed British soldiers murdered and tortured hundreds of civilians during the Iraq war, using legal aid to sue the Ministry of Defence. his firm received £2.3million of taxpayers’ money in three years.

an Nca spokesman said: ‘Following an Nca investigation and crown Prosecution Service authorisation, Philip Shiner will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ court on Monday to answer charges in respect of fraud offences relating to legal aid claims made in 2007 and information provided to the Solicitors regulation authority (Sra) in 2015.’

court papers accuse Shiner of committing fraud by false representation in april 2015 in response to a question from the Sra, which he ‘knew was untrue and misleading’, so he could continue to practise as a solicitor. he is also accused of being ‘engaged in the cold calling of clients in Iraq in relation to the alleged killings of Iraqi civilians by British army personnel’.