Ex-barrister, now a pro-Putin commentator, faces fraud inquiry

A PRO-PUTIN television pundit accused of forging the signature of one of Britain’s most senior judges is facing the prospect of fraud charges.

Alexander Mercouris was struck off by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) in 2012 after making a series of bizarre claims about Baroness Brenda Hale, the President of the Supreme Court, in an alleged attempt to cover his tracks in a compensation case against Westminster council.

Lorna Jamous, a former client, accused Mr Mercouris of causing her psychological and financial damage by lying to her over an action she brought against Westminster when her son was taken into care for a year.

The beautician says Mr Mercouris persuaded her to turn down an offer of £5,000 compensation from the council, claiming he had managed to get the settlement increased to £983,000.

When the money failed to materialise Mr Mercouris embarked on what the BSB later described as a series of “bizarre assertions to hide the truth”.

In order to persuade Mrs Jamous he had obtained the huge settlement, he showed her a forged letter purporting to be from Baroness Hale, expressing concern that the payment had not arrived. A Metropolitan Police investigation was closed after officers decided there was not enough evidence bring a criminal case against him.

Following complaints by Mrs Jamous, an internal inquiry by the Met’s Professional Standards Unit (PSU) has concluded that a detective inspector did not take into account all the evidence available. The Yard is now reviewing its investigation into Mr Mercouris and has to sought “early investigative advice” from the Crown Prosecution Service, raising the prospect he may yet have charges brought against him.

Mr Mercouris has said he was sorry for what he had done. After he was banned from practicing law he became a pundit on world affairs for Russian TV news outlets and websites.