Dr Sahu Khan allegedly transferred mortage-Witness

The first witness in the hearing of disbarred lawyer Doctor Muhammad Shamsud Dean Sahu Khan today told the Independent Legal Services Commission that Dr Sahu Khan was allegedly transferring the mortgage of his father’s property without their knowledge.

Krishna Datt of Labasa who is also the complainant, today claimed that due to Dr Sahu Khan’s alleged negligence, the loan amount of $20,000 his father took from Bank of Baroda in the 1980s has accumulated to over $124,000.

Upon cross examining by Dr Sahu Khan’s lawyer Natasha Khan, Datt said after the passing away of his father Ram Baran in 1994, Datt was unable to secure a loan from a financial institution to pay off his father’s debts as the case dragged on for some years.

Datt said Dr Sahu Khan assisted him through a private loan to pay off the bank and the property was transferred to a Jai Ram Sharma’s name who paid the loan.

According to Datt, Doctor Sahu Khan allegedly advised him to arrange the loan to pay off Sharma and get the property transferred to his name.

He was unable to pay the loan and a demand notice came from Jai Ram Sharma.

In December 2001 Datt said he received another demand notice from a Philip Jagdishwar Singh to pay $88,000 for this property as it was transferred to his name.

It is alleged that Dr Sahu Khan as solicitor of Philip Jagdishwar Singh purported the transfer of mortgage held in favour of Jai Ram Sharma and represented that he had witnessed the signature of Singh who had not instructed Dr Sahu Khan to act on his behalf in respect of the transfer.
 
It is also alleged that on 12th January 2009 Dr Sahu Khan falsely represented to the Native Land Trust Board that Philip Jagdishwar Singh was the mortgagee when in fact the transfer of mortgage lodged by Sahu Khan and Sahu Khan had been registered on 16th October 2007 effecting the mortgage of one Eshad Ali.  

During cross examination, Krishna Datt said he sought another lawyer Sunil Kumar when the demand notice came from Eshad Ali to vacate the property.

Datt said the loan is yet to be paid and they are still occupying the property.

The hearing is expected to be completed by next Wednesday.

Dr. Sahu Khan is charged with nine counts of Professional Misconduct/Unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional Misconduct.


Story by: Ronal Deo