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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| False alibi lawyer sent to jail | False alibi lawyer sent to jail |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A lawyer has been jailed for five years and three months after he admitted he gave a false alibi for a man charged with abduction and extortion. | A lawyer has been jailed for five years and three months after he admitted he gave a false alibi for a man charged with abduction and extortion. |
| Shahid Pervez, 39, told police the man was in his office discussing an insurance claim when the crime was alleged to have been committed. | Shahid Pervez, 39, told police the man was in his office discussing an insurance claim when the crime was alleged to have been committed. |
| At the High Court in Glasgow he admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice. | At the High Court in Glasgow he admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice. |
| Pervez claimed he agreed to the false alibi after threats were made. | Pervez claimed he agreed to the false alibi after threats were made. |
| Sentencing, Lord Hardie said: "You have pled guilty to an offence which strikes at the heart of justice by committing perjury in support of a false alibi for someone charged with a serious offence for whom a trial was fixed. | Sentencing, Lord Hardie said: "You have pled guilty to an offence which strikes at the heart of justice by committing perjury in support of a false alibi for someone charged with a serious offence for whom a trial was fixed. |
| "As a result, the trial was adjourned for investigation and the accused was allowed bail and is now a fugitive from justice." | "As a result, the trial was adjourned for investigation and the accused was allowed bail and is now a fugitive from justice." |
| He added: "The public is entitled to have the highest standard of integrity and honesty from lawyers and you have betrayed that trust and besmirched the good name of solicitors." | He added: "The public is entitled to have the highest standard of integrity and honesty from lawyers and you have betrayed that trust and besmirched the good name of solicitors." |
| Rule of law | Rule of law |
| Conveyancing solicitor Pervez, from Crookston, Glasgow, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by providing the man with a false alibi in 2005. | Conveyancing solicitor Pervez, from Crookston, Glasgow, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by providing the man with a false alibi in 2005. |
| Paul McBride QC, defending, described the man given the alibi, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as a significant player who inspired fear amongst criminals. | Paul McBride QC, defending, described the man given the alibi, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as a significant player who inspired fear amongst criminals. |
| Integrity and honesty are the core values expected in the legal profession. Clearly, Mr Pervez has betrayed those values Philip YellandThe Law Society of Scotland | Integrity and honesty are the core values expected in the legal profession. Clearly, Mr Pervez has betrayed those values Philip YellandThe Law Society of Scotland |
| He said Pervez agreed to provide the false alibi because the criminal threatened his life and the lives of his family. | He said Pervez agreed to provide the false alibi because the criminal threatened his life and the lives of his family. |
| Mr McBride said it was an absolute tragedy for the lawyer. | Mr McBride said it was an absolute tragedy for the lawyer. |
| Lord Hardie said it was an absolute tragedy for the course of justice. | Lord Hardie said it was an absolute tragedy for the course of justice. |
| He said that after he was threatened, Pervez should have reported the matter to police. | He said that after he was threatened, Pervez should have reported the matter to police. |
| He told Mr McBride that if the rule of law was ignored the courts would be governed by criminals. | He told Mr McBride that if the rule of law was ignored the courts would be governed by criminals. |
| "The rule of law is greater than any of us and in this case it hasn't prevailed because there is a fugitive from justice as a result of Pervez's actions," he said. | "The rule of law is greater than any of us and in this case it hasn't prevailed because there is a fugitive from justice as a result of Pervez's actions," he said. |
| Crown witness | Crown witness |
| Pervez has since resigned from his practice at the firm of Belton Pervez in Glasgow and is no longer a solicitor. | Pervez has since resigned from his practice at the firm of Belton Pervez in Glasgow and is no longer a solicitor. |
| Lord Hardie said that in sentencing Pervez he had taken into account the fact that he had given evidence for the Crown in the trial of a Glasgow policeman. | Lord Hardie said that in sentencing Pervez he had taken into account the fact that he had given evidence for the Crown in the trial of a Glasgow policeman. |
| The officer, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly tried to buy a witness's silence in the fugitive's trial, with a £50,000 bribe. | The officer, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly tried to buy a witness's silence in the fugitive's trial, with a £50,000 bribe. |
| The constable was found not guilty. | The constable was found not guilty. |
| Philip Yelland, of the Law Society of Scotland, said: "On the incredibly rare occasions when a former member of the legal profession is caught on the wrong side of the law it is deeply regrettable. | Philip Yelland, of the Law Society of Scotland, said: "On the incredibly rare occasions when a former member of the legal profession is caught on the wrong side of the law it is deeply regrettable. |
| "Mr Pervez's actions are especially disappointing when compared with the high standards that are so frequently displayed by the vast majority of the profession. | "Mr Pervez's actions are especially disappointing when compared with the high standards that are so frequently displayed by the vast majority of the profession. |
| "Integrity and honesty are the core values expected in the legal profession. Clearly, Mr Pervez has betrayed those values." | "Integrity and honesty are the core values expected in the legal profession. Clearly, Mr Pervez has betrayed those values." |
| Pervez was found guilty of professional misconduct in December 2005, on a separate matter. | |
| The Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal found him guilty of accounting malpractice and not registering title deeds timeously. | |
| He was fined £7,500 and barred from practising for 10 years. | |
| By that stage Pervez had voluntarily withdrawn his name from the roll of solicitors. |