Tribunal told solicitor Drakens Ejovi Mukoro faked tribunal files to claim £11,160 in funds
A solicitor accused of falsifying tribunal records to siphon thousands from the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has faced damning allegations at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).
Drakens Ejovi Mukoro, admitted as a solicitor in 2011, worked for Gans & Co Solicitors LLP when the alleged misconduct took place. According to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Mukoro knowingly fabricated records for First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health) hearings that never happened, enabling him to claim at least £11,160 in public funds.
The tribunal heard evidence that between 2011 and 2015, Mukoro repeatedly submitted claims for hearings that had not occurred. In several cases, the supposed patients were no longer detained at the time. Judges and panel members listed as present later confirmed they had not attended, and HMCTS records showed no such hearings were scheduled.
One file concerning a patient identified as “ZY” illustrated the alleged deception. Documents in Mukoro’s handwriting suggested he had attended a hearing in 2014. Yet official records showed ZY had been discharged the previous year and no hearing was ever held. Despite this, a £744 payment was claimed. Another file for “MR” contained an attendance sheet dated March 2012, but NHS officials and HMCTS confirmed that no hearing took place. Again, £744 was drawn. A third example involved “JP”, whose file claimed a September 2012 tribunal that court records proved never occurred.
Embed from Getty ImagesA peer review audit in 2013 flagged six suspect files. This prompted the LAA to widen its investigation, examining 96 cases from the firm. It concluded that at least 24 further hearings had been falsely claimed, leading to improper payments. The agency eventually recouped £176,716 from Gans & Co due to unsubstantiated claims and missing files.
The SRA’s forensic investigation later identified 15 files between 2011 and 2014 in which fraudulent claims were submitted, all linked to Mukoro. Evidence suggested the misconduct continued even after he said he left the firm in July 2014. Phone logs, billing messages, and electronic records indicated he was still handling mental health matters well into March 2015.
Receptionist Winnie McCain gave crucial testimony, recalling a late-night text from Mukoro in March 2015 saying he had “15 files” left “in the usual place”. She told the tribunal that he later came into the office to work with her on submitting billing. Records from the firm’s Lawmaster system confirmed that Mukoro’s login had been used repeatedly that year.
Mukoro denied the allegations and claimed the evidence had been fabricated as part of a conspiracy. He insisted he had ceased employment with Gans & Co in July 2014 and had joined another firm immediately afterwards. The firm, however, said he remained linked under a freelance arrangement until May 2015.
The SRA also targeted Gans & Co, accusing it of systemic failings. Regulators said the firm lacked adequate systems to monitor Mukoro’s conduct and breached multiple principles and code outcomes on supervision and client protection.
The tribunal, chaired by Ms N. Lucking with members Mr M. Jackson and Mr S. Marquez, admitted additional evidence from the LAA and imposed restrictions on hearing recordings due to sensitive client information.
While dishonesty was alleged against Mukoro, the SRA clarified that dishonesty did not need to be proven to establish the breaches. The proceedings concluded after a five-day hearing in June 2018, with sanctions to be determined