In Cyprus, a lawyer worked while serving a prison sentence: the disciplinary council suspended his license for 14 months

A lawyer, convicted in the United Kingdom for fraud and conspiracy, continued practicing law in Cyprus while serving his prison sentence. This was established by the Disciplinary Council of the Cyprus Bar Association.

According to the ruling, the lawyer was sentenced in England on April 25, 2005, to 9 years in prison (later reduced to 7.5 years) for conspiracy to commit fraud, fraud, conspiracy to facilitate breaches of immigration law, and obstruction of justice. A separate confiscation court ordered him to pay £650,000.

In 2008, he returned to Cyprus and resumed his legal practice. Later, for failing to appear in court in the confiscation case, the Cypriot court sentenced him to three years in prison if the amount was not paid.

The Bar Association brought four disciplinary charges against him, two of which were withdrawn. The lawyer admitted the remaining two — that he:

• held a valid practicing license while in prison;
• continued practicing while under house arrest.

He was released under supervision with the condition to work in his office, with a tentative release date of September 18, 2024. During this time, he held licenses for 2022 and 2023 and had been under house arrest since November 28, 2022, effectively continuing his legal practice.

The three-member disciplinary council noted that such conduct “is incompatible with the role of a justice officer.” The defense’s arguments that his activities during this period were “widely known” were rejected, emphasizing that this did not exempt him from the obligation to formally notify the Bar Association.

The ruling also notes that obtaining permissions from the prison administration to attend court and handle cases “is not a mitigating factor but, on the contrary, highlights the seriousness of the misconduct.” The council reminded that a lawyer cannot practice while serving a prison sentence and was obliged to notify the Bar from the start of the sentence in November 2022.

Ultimately, his practicing license is suspended for 14 months, starting December 17, 2025 — exactly covering the period during which he was effectively practicing while incarcerated. The ruling also mentions the lawyer’s difficult personal circumstances and contains a warning against further disciplinary violations.