3 Feb 2010

Rules to be tightened in Solomons after lawyers misuse client money

2:13 pm on 3 February 2010

The Solomon Islands Bar Association says it intends to bring in laws regarding trust accounts after two lawyers were accused of misusing clients' money.

Lawyers Charles Ashley and Charles Levo are denying charges of misusing more than 100,000 US dollars of their clients' money.

The President of the Bar Association Rodney Kingmele says the cases have tainted the public's perception of the profession.

He says his association intends to work to bring in regulations that hold legal practitioners to account for any unauthorised use of money held in trust for their clients or third parties.

He says there are currently no regulations regarding trust accounts but this should not be an excuse to abuse funds.