Lawyer gang ‘falsely claimed millions in legal aid conspiracy’

A GANG of lawyers conspired to scam the taxpayer out of millions of pounds in legal aid, a court heard.

The case centres on the trial of a family accused of employing illegal immigrants. Some of the defendants said they had paid their own costs but in reality they had received legal aid – with the lawyers pocketing the cash, it is alleged.

Barrister Shahid Rashid, 59, together with solicitors Razi Shah, 49, and husband and wife Rasib Ghaffar, 50, and Kareena Maciel, 47, are said to have falsely claimed they were owed £1.8 million in costs for the 2011 Bournemouth Crown Court trial.

Also accused in the conspiracy are solicitors Azhar Khan, 48, Joseph Ameyaw-Kyeremeh, 69, and legal clerk Gazi Khan, 49.

The two Khans are further accused of fraudulently claiming nearly £9 million in legal aid relating to two 2012 trials which were held in London.

The group managed to successfully claim £469,477 in the first conspiracy, Southwark Crown Court in London heard.

Prosecutor John McGuinness told the jury that while most Crown Court defendants use legal aid, some pay privately for their defence. But if the privately-represented defendant is cleared, they can claim back their costs through a socalled defendant’s cost order.

The court heard that a family were on trial for employing illegal immigrants in their two restaurants in Bournemouth and Poole and money laundering charges related to that.

While two brothers pleaded guilty, the other two were acquitted and claimed they paid for their own defence. However, they had been receiving legal aid.

Mr McGuinness said: ‘All seven defendants effectively put their heads together to make those false claims for reimbursement of private costs that had not actually been incurred.’

The court heard that similar false claims were made by the two Khans at the Old Bailey and Isleworth Crown Court. All the defendants, from London and Berkshire, deny fraud charges.

The trial continues.

‘Employing illegal immigrants’