A solicitor who withheld a substantial amount of money from clients has been struck off.

Solicitor, Hector Diaz Suner, the sole principal of Hector Diaz & Co, Finchley Road, London, has been struck off the Register of European Lawyers and ordered to pay up almost £20,000, following a tribunal hearing on the 14 November last year.

Mr Suner admitted to a collection of the allegations made against him, which included:  
- failing to act with integrity,
- failing to protect client money and assets,
- failing to keep other people’s money separate from his firm’s money,
- failing to use clients’ money only for client matters,
- and making unacceptable withdrawals from a client account.

The allegations stemmed from an SRA investigation in July 2013, where a visit to Suner’s firm revealed numerous potential issues including a collection of payments into the office bank account.

It was found that £216,837 held in the company’s account was in fact funds withheld from the client account and just over £66,830 was not returned to clients.

In regards to these transactions, Mr Suner explained that £198,374 paid into the office account on the 18th October 2012 was in regards to property purchase funds transferred in error. Then, just over a month later, £150,000 was paid out of the account – albeit £48,374.21 less than originally obtained.

Mr Suner explained the difference between the two values equated to his 0.75 per cent commission on an alleged £5 million transaction. However, on these figures the tribunal calculated that he was only due to keep £37,500, so £160,000 should have been returned instead of the £150,000.  

It was agreed that Mr Suner was to be struck off from the Register of European Lawyers from 8th January 2015 and could not seek readmission onto the register.

Mr Suner agreed to pay £19,998.50 towards of Forensic Investigation costs and legal fees.