Zacharias Miah
Year of Call: 1990
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Zacharias is a highly experienced criminal defence advocate who is known to be tenacious and has an
incredible eye for detail. His practice encompasses the full range of serious crimes. He has particular
expertise in multi-million pound white collar fraud and other complex financial crime as well as cross border
and international criminal litigation.
He is also frequently instructed on high value civil cases with complex criminal aspects or international
elements. Other areas of his practice include ancillary-relief and human rights. His experience in civil law
matters covers ten years in the High Court. Specialist in cross border and international criminal litigation,
fraud, Human Rights, civil matters with complex criminal aspects, and coroner enquiries.
Professional recommendations:
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Legal 500: 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011
“Highly Rated Defence Advocate”
“Recommended for cases with complex or medical aspects”
IBB Solicitors
“An incredible eye for detail, tenacious yet charming“
Lewis Hymanson Small:
“Prolific worker and razor sharp trial advocate ”
Memberships:
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Criminal Bar Association
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Member of the International Bar Association
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Member of Human Rights Lawyers Association
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Professional Negligence Bar Association
Lectures and Seminars:
Zacharias lectures a wide cross section of professionals (including foreign judiciary) on case preparation
and presentation particularly in relation to the following:
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Aspects of computer crime
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Criminal aspects of intellectual property law
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Handling large volume cases with software retrieval systems
Education, Scholarships and Prizes:
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LLM (with merit) University of London
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Duke of Edinburgh scholarship (Inner Temple)
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Baron Ver Heyden De Lancey Prize
Carmelite Chambers, 9 Carmelite Street London EC4Y 0DR – Tel: 020 7936 6300 - Fax: 020 7936 6301
www.carmelitechambers.co.uk
Languages:
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Bengali, Italian and French (working knowledge).
Reported cases include:
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West Midlands £50m metals fraud involving an international metals business exporting worldwide
(February 2012).
R v Joshim Ahmed 2012 EWCA Court of Appeal found “Scrappy conduct by Judge” - duty of a
Judge when referring to a Defendant’s police interview.
R v Mohammed Sharif 2010 EWCA 1709 Quashing of a 1999 conviction on fresh evidence inherent genetic and brain damage expert evidence.
The Queen on the Application of Ahmed v HM Coroner South East Cumbria 2009 EWHC 1653
Judicial Review, procedure, disclosure, verdict statement of Coroner over turned.
R. v Iqbal (Nadeem) [2005] EWCA Crim 1368 Maximum sentence and reduction of sentence for
early guilty plea.
L v Tower Hamlets LBC [2001] Fam. 313; [2001] 2 W.L.R. 909; [2000] 3 All E.R. 346; [2000] 1
F.L.R. 825 Duty of professional care of Government Services.
Gosain v Gosain 2001 All ER (CA) 116 Ancillary relief disclosure.
Re S (CA) [1998] 1 WLR 1701; [1998] 2 F.L.R. 921 Jurisdiction Arguments India (Court of Appeal)
Rafiq v Chief Constable of Manchester 1995 malicious attack, extensive forensic enquiry, duty of
care. (Manchester High Court).
Re Youngs 1995, unreported Microsoft Hacking (St Albans CC).
Re M CA (1994) The Times; [1995] 1 F.L.R. 546; [1995] 2 F.C.R. 435 (Child appeal).
Fraud and Financial Crime
Vast experience in the full range of financial crime including representing directors, city traders, carousel
fraud, and advising high profile individuals. Frequently instructed to advise pre-charge on matters. Current
and recent cases include:
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West Midlands £50m metals fraud involving an international metals business exporting worldwide
(February 2012);
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Multi-million pound confiscation related to carousel frauds;
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One hundred million pound civil claim disclosure utilised in the defence of a director in a forty four
million pounds brewer’s metal fraud;
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Allegation of a two billion pound international fraud;
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Multi-million pound Carousel frauds (Birmingham Crown Court and Southwark Crown Court);
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Largest credit card fraud (successful application to stay proceedings for police failure to provide
proper disclosure to the defence) (Southwark Crown Court);
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Three million pound fraud acquitted (defence conducted investigation into prosecution’s failures);
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Two million pound merchant bank fraud.
Carmelite Chambers, 9 Carmelite Street London EC4Y 0DR – Tel: 020 7936 6300 - Fax: 020 7936 6301
www.carmelitechambers.co.uk
Direct Access
Regularly instructed to advise private clients under direct public access. He also has a wealth of experience
of joining teams of civil lawyers to advise high net worth individuals on criminal elements in large value
asset cases.
Public and Prison Law
Judicial Review including in relation to Coroner’s verdicts, and decisions and acts of local authorities.
Appeals and CCRC
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Currently acting in an appeal relating to terrorism and the first prosecution under the new offence
under hatred laws and Human Rights Act (2012);
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Acted on behalf of CCRC, quashed 1999 conviction in 2010 upon fresh medical evidence including
highly complicated brain expert evidence and genetic inheritance evidence;
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Currently advising on an appeal relating to Virgin Media and impropriety of private funding of police
in investigation (2012);
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Currently advising on an appeal in terrorist case involving downloading of material in the public
domain (2012).
Confiscation, Civil Recovery and Asset Forfeiture
All aspects relating to frauds.
Terrorism
Recent and current cases include:
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Dissemination of terrorist material;
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Downloading of terrorist material (high-tech data);
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Appeal relating to sentencing in relation to downloading material in the public domain (leading
case).
International Criminal Law
Previously advised on political murders and enquiries involving Jurisdiction arguments.
Carmelite Chambers, 9 Carmelite Street London EC4Y 0DR – Tel: 020 7936 6300 - Fax: 020 7936 6301
www.carmelitechambers.co.uk
Extradition and Mutual Assistance
Advising on all aspects of extradition. Current and past cases include:
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Advising private clients in UAE (UK nationals arrested in India, wanted in UK);
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High value drugs importation in Spain;
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Representing a director in major cross border fraud in Finland (acted as English Counsel in
international defence team before the Finnish appellate court).
Regulatory and Disciplinary Proceedings
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Past cases include:
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Professional liability cases;
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Privilege - Legal arguments on protection of Solicitors file on application by Crown v Abbey
Solicitors (Preston Crown Court);
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Professional costs orders against Solicitors/ Law Firms challenged.
Organised Crime
Recent and past cases include:
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Defrauding TNT - bypassing security measures uploading material onto international airlines
(Isleworth Crown Court);
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Money laundering (Manchester Crown Court (multi-million pound foreign exchange bureau);
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International (South East Asia) and large scale counterfeit and container fraud;
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Internet counterfeit fraud (PayPal, Google);
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Firearms and missile offences;
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Sophisticated drug factories;
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Sri Lankan fraud;
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Firearms and kidnapping (cross culture case).
Homicide and Corporate Manslaughter
Complicated cases involving scientific evidence. Current and recent cases include:
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Alleged Honour killings;
Judicial review Coroner’s verdict;
Child murder;
“Face of Asia” suicide enquiry;
Medical professionals e.g. Cambridge Coroner’s inquest – death caused by medical professionals in
prison – duty of expert. Government body.
Carmelite Chambers, 9 Carmelite Street London EC4Y 0DR – Tel: 020 7936 6300 - Fax: 020 7936 6301
www.carmelitechambers.co.uk