Court News UK reported that Robin Choudhury, 50, funnelled vast sums of money to relatives and bought millions of pounds worth of shares with the proceeds of 13 fraudulent mortgages. Before the scam was uncovered, Choudhury fled to Bangladesh to live a lavish lifestyle during three years on the run.
Choudhury used the name and details of a disabled friend in order to obtain the mortgages, using his position at Family Law Practice (FLP) firm of solicitors, based in Cowes to gain access to the firm’s client account.
In February 2009, an SRA notification called for the former Director of FLP, Michael James Mills, to appear in front of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal regarding allegations that he allowed client monies to be “improperly withdrawn” and “failed to adequately supervise a member of his staff”.
Prosecutors said Mr Choudry abused his position over a six month period in 2007 and 2008 to siphon money away from the Isle of Wight based firm also carrying out a £5m mortgage fraud on a string of banks and mortgage lenders.
While on the run in Bangladesh he was appointed as the Director of Barakatullah Electro Dynamics Limited, a private company that provided power to developing parts of Bangladesh where he amassed over 7 million shares in the company.
In November 2011 the fraudster was eventually brought before justice and after a hearing at Southwark Crown Court this week, the former legal boss was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for his crime.
