FORMER Lautoka lawyer Jadhav Prakashan has been disbarred and struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners after abandoning his law firm and allegedly misappropriating more than $174,000 in client funds and unearned legal fees.
The Independent Legal Services Commission (ILSC) delivered the ruling in Suva last week after the Chief Registrar filed a motion under the Legal Practitioners Act 2009.
Mr Prakashan, who formerly operated Prakashan & Associates in Nadi, failed to appear or respond to court notices. Immigration records revealed he has been out of the country since July 7, 2024, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.
ILSC Commissioner Justice Daniel Goundar found that Mr Prakashan engaged in a sustained pattern of dishonesty and unprofessional conduct. Unchallenged evidence showed that he abandoned his Nadi office without notice, leaving it vacant without client files or equipment.
The commission heard that 23 complaints are currently pending against him before the Legal Practitioners Unit (LPU). Financial assessments indicate he allegedly misappropriated $143,873 from his firm’s trust account and received $30,298 in legal fees without completing the required work. His trust account currently holds a balance of just $237.87.
Justice Goundar ordered that Mr Prakashan immediately reimburse the trust account with $143,873 for client refunds and return $30,298 in unearned legal fees. He was also ordered to submit audited trust account reports for the 2024 and 2025 financial years.
Additionally, the commission granted leave for the Chief Registrar to refer the matter to the police for criminal investigation regarding the alleged misappropriation and ordered that he be placed on the immigration watch list to monitor any potential re-entry into Fiji.
