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Barrister disbarred after legal aid fraud conviction

An independent disciplinary tribunal ordered Rasib Ghaffar to be disbarred following his conviction for conspiracy to defraud the legal aid fund, the Bar Standards Board has said.

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Barrister Rasib Ghaffar was ordered to be disbarred by an independent disciplinary tribunal which concluded on 8 October, following one charge of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).

The tribunal found that Mr Ghaffar acted in a manner that was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or the profession, or could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his integrity. The charge arose from Mr Ghaffar’s conviction in February 2024 for an offence related to conspiracy to defraud the legal aid fund, for which he was sentenced to three years imprisonment in June 2024.

Key points

  • The tribunal concluded on 8 October and dealt with one charge of professional misconduct brought by the BSB.
  • Mr Ghaffar was convicted in February 2024 of an offence related to conspiracy to defraud the legal aid fund.
  • He was sentenced to three years imprisonment in June 2024.
  • The tribunal ordered that he be disbarred.
  • The tribunal’s findings remain subject to appeal.

The findings

The tribunal found that Mr Ghaffar’s conduct was likely to diminish the trust and confidence the public places in him or the profession, or could reasonably be seen to undermine his integrity. This finding followed his criminal conviction for conspiracy to defraud the legal aid fund.

BSB response

A spokesperson for the Bar Standards Board said: “Mr Ghaffar’s conduct in defrauding the legal aid fund led to a criminal conviction for dishonesty and falls well below the standards that the public expect of barristers. The order to disbar him reflects this.”

Background and status

Rasib Ghaffar was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn in July 1995. The tribunal’s findings remain subject to appeal.

Sources