LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Lawyer Silvester Ayuba James faces disbarment as the Malawi Law Society’s Disciplinary Committee recommends Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda remove him from the country’s legal practitioners’ roll.
The committee also advises the Director of Public Prosecutions to initiate criminal investigations against James under Section 96 {1} {a} of the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act.
James was found guilty of embezzling client funds in a civil case involving Billy Matitha Gama, who claimed James advised him to deposit MK60 million in his personal account.
Gama later withdrew MK29 million through James, only to learn of a court ruling instructing him to pay the supplier K46 million.
The committee orders James to refund MK11.3 million to Gama and pay MK240,000 to MLS as disciplinary costs, citing Section 96 {2} (a) of the LELPA.
The committee also notes James’ behavior discredited the legal profession.
James has been an advocate of President Lazarus Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
