Disciplinary action against John Kinnear

John Kinnear, a non-practising member from West Sussex, has been expelled from membership and ordered to pay costs of £1,500 by the Discipline Tribunal of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

The expulsion follows Mr Kinnear’s conviction for conspiracy to obtain services by deception in that he conspired with others to dishonestly obtain from various financial institutions money transfers in various sums, mainly by falsely representing that the documents and accounts used in support of mortgage and loan applications were genuine. Mr Kinnear had previously been suspended from membership of the Institute pending the conclusion of any appeal against his conviction.

Expelling Mr Kinnear, the Discipline Tribunal considered that the circumstances giving rise to his imprisonment struck at the very integrity and honesty which the public expects of a Chartered Accountant. Accordingly the Tribunal no longer considered him to be a person fit and proper to remain a member of ICAS.

Issued: 15 June 2010