THE best known lawyer in the Netherlands, Bram Moszkowicz, has been banned from practising law for life for bringing the profession into disrepute.
A professional disciplinary body imposed the penalty after hearing how Moszkowicz (52) accepted large amounts of cash from some clients, demanded payment up front from others, and presented invoices detailing work that was never carried out.
Mr Moszkowicz recently reached a settlement with the tax authorities over an outstanding bill of more than €1 million – though other tax matters are still being investigated.
He has represented the former dictator of Surinam, soccer player Robin van Persie, the Netherlands’ most infamous gangster, Willem Holleeder, and right-wing politician Geert Wilders, who was acquitted of incitement to hatred.
One of the professional complaints lodged against Mr Moszkowicz was that he insulted the court during the Wilders trial.
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