An experienced solicitor who had his client pay fees into his personal bank account, then tried to claim it was all an error, has been struck off the roll.
Mandeep Sunny Singh Thandi was a director with County Durham firm Kenneth M Barrow and Co when he was instructed to represent a criminal client. She had not qualified for legal aid and was paying privately, so she requested the firm’s bank details.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard that Thandi, a solicitor since 2014, agreed fees of £6,000 with the client and provided his own bank details.
He did not ensure the matter was opened on the firm’s management or finance systems as would usually happen. Instead, the client proceeded to transfer £5,510 over four payments and Thandi retained this money.