GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 280

PURSUANT to section 53 (9) of the Advocates Act and rule 12 (1) of the Advocates (Complaints Commission) Rules, 1991 it is notified for general information that from 1st October, 2013 to 31st December, 2013, the Commission received a total of two hundred and eighty seven (287) new complaints out of which forty eight (48) were classified and files opened. Two hundred and thirty nine (239) were submitted for further enquiry under Preliminary Enquiry Initiative. 2. The nature of new complaints is as shown below: Nature of complaints No. of complaints (a) Failure to account 5 (b) Failure to keep client informed 1 (c) Failure to render professional services 6 (d) Withholding funds 7 (e) Issuing Dishonored Cheques 1 (f) Delay Nil (g) Withholding documents 1 (h) Others 3 TOTAL 24 3. Complaints filed against advocates/firms of advocates were disposed of in the following manner: Classified Complaints No. of Complaints (a) Abandoned 2 (b) Settled 4 (c) Closed: no misconduct disclosed 1 (d) Dismissed Nil (e) Withdrawn Nil (f) Others 2 TOTAL 9 Preliminary Enquiry (PE) complaints • Total number of complaints subjected to Preliminary Enquiry (PE) was two hundred and thirty nine (239). • Total number of complaints settled under the Preliminary Enquiry (PE) was eighty six (86). 4. The matters referred to the Disciplinary Committee (DC) during the same period for further action and in accordance with Section 57(1) of the Advocates Act were twenty eight (28). 5. During the same period a further twenty two (22) cases were disposed of as follows: No. of Complaints (a) Advocates Struck Off the Roll of Advocates 2 (b) Advocates suspended 0 (c) Advocates acquitted 2 (d) Settled (matters resolved) 13 (e) Withdrawn 4 (f) Dismissed 1 (g) Others 0 TOTAL 22 6. In pursuant to section 53 (4) and in the spirit of Section 53 (5) of the Advocates Act, eight (8) complaints were settled amicably at the Advocates’ Complaints Commission. Dated the 6th January, 2014. BEAUTTAH SIGANGA, Chairman.