Diljit Bachada was jailed, alongside an accomplice who provided a false statement, after she falsified documents in order to make a court claim against a former employee.
The initial dispute was started between the two parties over money owed to the victim after she resigned from Hollies Solicitors, in Bromsgrove, in August 2012.
In May 2013, claiming a breach of her contract of employment, the victim received a County Court claim made against her by Bachada for the sum of £20,486.35.
Two contracts were attached to the claim apparently signed by both the victim and Bachada, who was the principal solicitor at the firm.
However, the victim realized she had never signed the documents and reported the matter to the police.
Handwriting experts looked at the contracts and agreed with the victim that she indeed had not signed the contracts. Furthermore, further anomalies were discovered by police, including an incorrect Law Society copyright at the foot of each page.
In addition to that, the clause stated in the contract had not come into force until July 2010, but the documents appeared to have been signed half a year earlier in January.
Bachada was subsequently arrested, as well as another solicitor, Tharanjit Biring, who had provided police with a false witness statement with the aim of assisting Bachada.
45-year-old Bachada was found guilty of two counts of fraud and two counts of perverting the court of justice after a six-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.
On Wednesday 23rd August, she was jailed for four and a half years.
Biring, 41, was sentenced to 19 months in prison after being found guilty of perverting the court of justice.
“Diljit Bachada abused her position of trust and authority to try and manipulate a civil claim against her former employee,” said Ian Crooks, Senior Crown Prosecutor with West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service.
“Tharanjit Biring assisted her by providing false information in a witness statement.
“Their fraud was uncovered when the victim became suspicious about a number of documents which were sent to her which appeared to bear her signature.
“Handwriting experts concluded that these were not her signatures and investigation also uncovered incorrect use of The Law Society copyright as well as inserting a law in the contract which had not even been introduced when the contracts were alleged to have been signed,” he added.
“Both of these two individuals have brought their profession into disrepute and they will now have to deal with the consequences of their actions.”
Detective Sergeant Mark Morton of West Mercia Police said, ““This has been a complex case that involved a detailed analysis of legal documents to establish that they had been falsified.
“Members of the public rely on those involved in our judicial service to be totally honest and incorruptible but the actions of Diljit Bachada and Tharanjit Biring have undoubtedly damaged that trust.”
He added, “I would encourage anyone who has any concerns as a result of this case to speak to police officers on 101.”
