KINGSTON, Jamaica – Weeks after he was charged for fraud, attorney-at-law Audley Earl Melhado has been struck from the roll of attorneys-at-law entitled to practise in the several courts in Jamaica.

This decision was made by the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council and became effective on October 24.

After hearing evidence in a complaint brought by a client, the committee found that Melhado was guilty of professional misconduct.

“The matter concerned a motor vehicle accident in which the complainant sustained serious personal injuries. The attorney successfully negotiated a settlement with third party’s insurer,” the General Leagal Council said in a notice in the press. “The complainant therefore executed a Release and Discharge in consideration of which sum between $1.56 million and $1.58 million was disbursed to the attorney, Mr Audley Melhado, on the complainant’s behalf.”

But Melhado “failed, neglected and/or refused to account to the complainant” for the money,” the notice said.

“The attorney collected the money in or about May 2008 and failed to pay it over to his client,” the notice continued. “After several failed attempts to contact his attorney, the complainant eventually received a letter dated 30th November, 2009, promising to pay the money on or before the 30th January, 2010.”

The General Legal Council said Melhado, however, reneged on his promise and the complaint was brought.

The Disciplinary Committee said that they were of the view that Melhado’s conduct was more than just a “serious lapse” and if public confidence is to be maintained, there really is only one appropriate sanction for such a breach – a striking off order was necessary.

“The public is hereby advised that Mr Audley Earl Melhado is therefore not entitled to practise as an attorney-at-law in Jamaica nor can he be employed in that capacity by any member of the public,” the notice said.

Meanwhile, Melhado was arrested and charged on October 9 for fraud.

The police said then that the operation was the culmination of months of investigations into allegations of fraudulent conversion of client funds following the sale of a property in 2012.