DEBT CLEARED
By Nicola Laver
A solicitor who allowed a former client to pay off her debt has been fined £25,000 by the SDT and ordered to pay £9,000 in costs. Sabrina Maini was 12 years' qualified at the time. She gave her bank details to a Mr X, who transferred £25,000 into her account and paid £50,000 to her credit card company. The tribunal said Maini, whom Mr X said he regarded as his 'surrogate daughter' and who wanted to change his will in her favour, 'should have known better' and only returned the money when she was found out. However, the tribunal noted she did not deceive her client and that the money had been made good.