Jailed Scots lawyer who helped fraudster hide £1.8m is struck off solicitors’ roll

Richard Housely, 59, was imprisoned for four years in 2013 for assisting in the scheme.

He worked for Gebals Solicitors in Bathgate, West Lothian, at the time and met Mr Voudouri in 2002.

The fraudster invited Mr Housley to become part of his business front which he used to hide his activities from the authorities.

Sentencing him at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Tyre had said solicitors should be “gate-keepers” to stop money laundering.

He is out of prison under early release but has been banned from practising again.

The SSDT found Mr Housley’s conviction and sentence were a “serious and reprehensible departure from the standard of conduct to be expected of a competent and reputable solicitor.”

Tribunal chairman Alistair Cockburn said: “The respondent is clearly not a fit person to remain on the Roll of Solicitors.”