Alina Yousif was removed from the roll of legal practitioners eight years after her arrest for participating in a criminal group, attempting to pass off a false document as genuine, and knowingly taking part in the supply of 55.5 grams of methylamphetamine.
The former lawyer was found guilty in March 2020 and sentenced to an aggregate term of three years imprisonment from June 2020, which was to be served by way of an intensive corrections order.
While concerned about the offending itself, Justices Julie Ward, Michael Ball, and John Basten of the NSW Supreme Court said it was most concerned with Yousif’s untruthful evidence and lack of insight.
“At the very least, the answers she gave in cross-examination … demonstrate that Yousif has not fully accepted the respects in which her conduct involved the commission of serious criminal offences, including criminal offences going to her honesty,” the bench said.
In their written reasons, published late last week, the bench said this made Yousif unfit to remain on the roll and it was “not possible to say with any confidence if and when the position will change”.
