Former lawyer pleads guilty to fraud over Iraq war claims

Former quality rights lawyer Phil Shiner has pleaded blameworthy to 3 counts of fraud, linked to claims made against British Iraq War veterans.

Shiner, 67, appeared astatine Southwark Crown Court connected Monday wherever helium entered the blameworthy pleas, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

The erstwhile brag of Public Interest Lawyers was struck disconnected by the Solicitors Regulation Authority successful 2017 for pursuing mendacious torture and execution allegations against British troops.

The caput of the NCA's International Corruption Unit said the condemnation "is a milestone".

The 3 charges subordinate to allegations of fraud offences implicit ineligible assistance claims made successful 2007.

Then, Shiner, from Birmingham, made an exertion to the Legal Services Commission, seeking up to £200,000 of ineligible assistance backing for his steadfast to correspond clients including Khuder Al-Sweady, successful an exertion for judicial review.

It was claimed that his nephew, Hamid Al-Sweady, was unlawfully killed portion successful the custody of British troops astatine subject basal Camp Abu Naji.

A lengthy enquiry into wider allegations of maltreatment astatine the hands of British soldiers established "beyond doubt" that each the astir superior allegations had been recovered to beryllium "wholly without instauration and wholly the merchandise of deliberate lies".

The enquiry study said that Hamid Al-Sweady had been killed "outright" during warring and was not detained alive.

The NCA said that, successful total, Shiner received astir £3 cardinal successful the worth of the declaration and that the ensuing Al-Sweady enquiry outgo the taxation payer £24 million.

The bureau said Shiner had failed to disclose that an cause acted connected his behalf and had been acold calling and making unsolicited approaches to imaginable clients successful Iraq.

The 2nd number of fraud was levelled aft helium was recovered to person not disclosed helium was paying referral fees - a signifier not permitted portion obtaining a ineligible assistance contract.

He was besides convicted for providing a witnesser connection to the Commission successful enactment of his application, which was again obtained via an unsolicited approach.

Because this accusation was not disclosed, Shiner was capable to summation a invaluable ineligible assistance declaration to prosecute the judicial review, the bureau said.

Andy Kelly, caput of the NCA's International Corruption Unit said: "This condemnation is simply a milestone successful what has been a thorough and analyzable home and planetary investigation."

"Shiner's actions resulted successful untold unit and anxiousness connected members of the British Armed Forces, pursuing ineligible challenges funded done dishonest actions," helium said.

Shiner volition beryllium sentenced connected 2 December.