Mohammed Tasnime Akunjee was fined £6,500 and £30,000 costs over Press TV broadcast remarks
A solicitor has been fined after a disciplinary tribunal found he made false and misleading claims during a broadcast on Press TV, an Iranian state-owned channel.
Mohammed Tasnime Akunjee, admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2010 and currently working as a consultant criminal defence lawyer, was disciplined over his participation in an episode of Palestine Declassified in September 2022.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) heard that Akunjee appeared on the programme, introduced as a solicitor and legal expert, where he criticised the London law firm Mishcon de Reya. The episode, titled Mishcon de Reya – Zionist Law Firm, was later found by the tribunal to have an antisemitic tone, though Akunjee himself was not accused of making antisemitic remarks.
Instead, the tribunal focused on statements he made about Mishcon. During the broadcast, Akunjee claimed the firm had been “fined a record sum for money laundering,” and described the sanction as a “criminal offence.” In reality, Mishcon had been fined £232,500 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in 2021 for breaches of its anti-money laundering procedures – a regulatory breach, not a criminal matter.
He also wrongly stated that Mishcon had represented Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet, a claim the tribunal confirmed was wholly inaccurate.
The SRA argued that these assertions were reckless and undermined public trust in the profession. The regulator also criticised Akunjee for failing to disassociate himself from the programme after it aired, despite admitting he felt uneasy about his involvement.
In his defence, Akunjee told the tribunal he had been invited to discuss Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and press freedom but only discovered the programme’s focus on Mishcon de Reya when he arrived at the studio. He said he drew on general knowledge under pressure and believed his remarks were accurate at the time. He later apologised to Mishcon managing partner James Libson, wrote to the broadcaster to request removal of the episode, and issued a public apology on social media.
The tribunal accepted that Akunjee had made genuine mistakes rather than acting dishonestly or recklessly. It found that he breached Principle 2 of the SRA Principles 2019, requiring solicitors to act with integrity, and paragraph 1.4 of the Code of Conduct, by making misleading statements. However, it rejected allegations that he lacked integrity or had acted recklessly, describing his culpability as “low.”
In determining sanction, the SDT noted Akunjee had shown remorse, cooperated with the investigation, and taken steps to distance himself from the programme. It also acknowledged his personal circumstances at the time, including grief following the death of his brother.
The tribunal ordered him to pay a £6,500 fine and £30,000 towards the SRA’s costs. He was not suspended or struck off.
In its ruling, the SDT said: “Making inaccurate statements as a solicitor undermines trust and confidence in the profession and caused harm to the firm concerned.” However, it also stressed the mitigating factors, concluding that a financial penalty was the appropriate and proportionate sanction.
This is not the first time Akunjee has faced regulatory action. In 2022, he was rebuked over abusive tweets that breached professional standards.
The case highlights the risks solicitors face when engaging with media platforms, especially those involving controversial subject matter, and the heightened responsibility to ensure accuracy when speaking in their professional capacity.