A lawyer convicted in England of fraud and conspiracy offences continued practising law in Cyprus whilst serving a prison sentence, a disciplinary council has found.
The lawyer was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment in England on 25 April 2005, later reduced to seven and a half years on appeal, for conspiracy to defraud, fraud, conspiracy to facilitate breach of immigration law, and perverting the course of justice. A confiscation court also ordered him to pay £650,000.
He returned to Cyprus in 2008 and began practising law, according to the Cyprus Bar Association’s disciplinary decision. He failed to appear in court for proceedings related to the confiscation order and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in Cyprus unless he paid the amount.
The Bar Association brought four disciplinary charges against him, two of which were withdrawn. He admitted the remaining two charges relating to holding a practising licence whilst serving a prison sentence and practising law whilst under home detention.
The lawyer was released under supervision with conditions including working at his law office, with a possible release date of 18 September 2024. He held practising licences for 2022 and 2023 whilst under home detention from 28 November 2022.
The three-member disciplinary council said his conduct was incompatible with his role as an officer of justice. The council rejected defence arguments that it was widely known he was practising during this period, stating this did not excuse his failure to inform the Bar Association.
“The fact that the accused lawyer received permits from the Central Prisons authorities to appear in court and practise law not only does not constitute a mitigating factor but, on the contrary, demonstrates the seriousness of the disciplinary offence,” the decision stated.
The council said a lawyer cannot practise whilst serving a prison sentence and noted he should have officially informed the Bar Association when his prison sentence began in November 2022.
The council suspended his practising licence for 14 months from 17 December 2025, matching the period during which he practised whilst imprisoned.
The decision noted his difficult personal circumstances and warned him to avoid future conduct constituting a disciplinary offence.
