Leeland T. Playfair: Complaint No. 216 of 2001

Posted on by July 5, 2024

RESULT: Struck Off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered June 25, 2003.

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DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL

IN THE MATTER of Dr. Lloyd Barnett of the General Legal Council and Leyland Playfair, an Attorney-at-Law.

AND

IN THE MATTER of the Legal Profession Act.

Before:
Miss Hilary Phillips, Q.C.
Mrs. Merlin Bassie
Mr. David Batts

Date of Hearing: 21st June, 2003

  1. Mr. Leyland Playfair was absent when this complaint came on for hearing on the 21st June, 2003,. The panel satisfied itself that he had been properly served pursuant to the Fourth Schedule of the Legal Profession Act and regard was had to the Affidavit of Mervalyn Walker dated 20th June, 2003 in proof of posting of Notice.
  2. Dr. Lloyd Barnett, Chairman of the General Legal Council attended the hearing. He was sworn and formally placed into evidence his Affidavit dated 31st October, 2002.
  3. The evidence disclosed that the attorney Mr. Leyland Playfair was on the 12th March, 1999 convicted in the Resident Magistrate’s Court for the Corporate Area of the offence of Fraudulent Conversion and sentenced to six (6) months imprisonment at hard labour. A certificate of conviction from the court was exhibited and dated 24th July, 2001. This conviction resulted in the complaint by Dr. Lloyd Barnett, Chairman of the General Legal Council pursuant to Section 12(1) of the Legal Profession Act.
  4. The panel makes the following findings:
    1. That the attorney was convicted of the criminal offence of Fraudulent Conversion and was sentenced to six (6) months imprisonment at hard labour.
    2. That the offence is a prescribed offence under Rule 2(9) of the Legal Profession (Prescribed Offences) Rules 1998.
    3. That a conviction of such an offence is in breach of Canon III (k) and I(b) of the Legal Profession (Canons of Professional Ethics) Rules.
    4. The conduct of the attorney and the subsequent conviction have tended to discredit the profession.
  5. In the premises the panel unanimously decided that the name of the attorney Leyland Playfair be struck from the roll of attorneys-at-law entitled to practice in the several courts of the island of Jamaica pursuant to Section 12 (4) of the Legal Profession Act.

Dated the 25th day of June 2003

Hilary Phillips, Q.C.
Merlin Bassie
David Batts

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