Philip Shiner, 67, a former human rights lawyer, has pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud at Southwark Crown Court. The plea comes after Shiner’s controversial pursuit of legal claims against British soldiers accused of ill-treatment of Iraqi detainees following the 2003 Iraq war.
Shiner was the principal solicitor of the law firm Public Interest Lawyers and was instrumental in seeking legal claims against the British military. In 2007, he made an application to the Legal Services Commission, the predecessor of the Legal Aid Agency, requesting up to £200,000 of Legal Aid funding to represent clients, including Khuder Al-Sweady, in an application for Judicial Review. Overall, Shiner received around £3 million from the contract.
The ensuing Al-Sweady inquiry, which focused on allegations against the British Armed Forces, cost taxpayers a staggering £24 million.
During the application process, Shiner failed to disclose that an agent, acting on his behalf and with his knowledge, had been cold-calling and making unsolicited approaches to potential clients in Iraq. Furthermore, he did not reveal that he was paying referral fees, which was not allowed under Legal Aid Contract guidelines.
Shiner also provided a witness statement to support his application for legal aid, which was obtained through an unsolicited approach. These undisclosed practices enabled Shiner to secure a valuable legal aid contract that allowed him to pursue judicial review.
Andy Kelly, head of the National Crime Agency’s International Corruption Unit, commented on the conviction, stating: “This conviction is a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex domestic and international investigation. Shiner’s actions resulted in untold pressure and anxiety on members of the British Armed Forces, pursuing legal challenges funded through dishonest actions.”
Philip Shiner is set to be sentenced on December 2.
