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Former Appeal Judge set to defend debarment in London High Court
Former Guyana Court of Appeal Judge, Rabi Sukul will soon put forward his case in the London High Court in defence of action which caused his debarment from the United Kingdom judicial system.
Sukul (centre) flanked by President Donald Ramotar and his wife.
Sukul’s appeal of his debarment was last Wednesday adjourned by Lord Justice Laws and Justice Cranston to allow his defence. Sukul was disbarred in his absence by the UK Bar Council Disciplinary Tribunal in mid February of this year. It is alleged that the UK lawyer had drafted two grounds of appeal in another matter although he knew they were false, and intended to mislead the court and his client.
The High Court heard arguments that Sukul would have a good defence to both allegations if the two grounds he drafted were arguable. He would have also been able to advance that defence if he was present at the Disciplinary Tribunal hearing.
The Bar Council did not oppose this argument and the High Court ruled that the appeal be adjourned to allow the former Appeal Court Judge to show that the two grounds of appeal he drafted are arguable.
The UK Bar Council also did not object to the High Court ruling.
The UK bar’s disciplinary tribunal had heard that Sukul, of Balham Chambers, London, drafted a document to the Court of Appeal, setting out initial grounds for an appeal against conviction on behalf of his client, who had been convicted of drugs-related offences.
The tribunal found that he had created the document, knowing it to be false, with the intention of misleading his client into believing he had grounds to appeal his conviction, when Sukul knew there were no grounds of appeal.
The five-person tribunal found unanimously that Sukul had intentionally misled his client and engaged in conduct likely to bring the legal profession into disrepute. He was thus ordered to be disbarred but the decision is open to appeal.
Sukul’s disbarment created a stir locally since the UK lawyer was given the prestigious position of a Justice of Appeal. Acting Chancellor of the Guyana Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, had called for the immediate resignation of Justice Sukul who undertook to do so.
Sukul took the Oath of Office in the presence Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag) Carl Singh, and Director of Public Prosecution Shalimar Ali-Hack among others. President Donald Ramotar had presented Sukul with his documentation following his swearing in.
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