Court Case Commences Against Guildford Councillor – Case Referred to Crown Court

Published on: 2 Sep, 2014
Updated on: 3 Sep, 2014

The case against Cllr Monika Juneja was referred to Guildford Crown Court by South West Surrey Magistrates’ Court today.

The councillor who is facing seven charges, including pretending to be a barrister, is now due to appear at Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on Friday, September 19. Ms Juneja only spoke when she was asked to give her name and address. No pleas were entered.

Cllr Monika Juneja

After delays to the court proceedings, to allow Monika Juneja’s recently instructed counsel, London based Forz Khan, to read case papers, the three Justices of the Peace, having heard details of the charges, declined jurisdiction as the case was too serious.

The seven charges against the councillor were read out. They included forgery, fraud by false representation, obtaining monetary advantage by deception and wilfully pretending to be a barrister.

But more detail of the charges also emerged from the prosecution team. They alleged that when applying for a Bar Vocational Course, Ms Juneja informed Grey’s Inn that she had obtained a 2.1 degree when she had only obtained a 3rd. Such a grade would be insufficient to qualify for a place on the course.

It was alleged that she had secured employment using a CV which falsely stated she had got a ‘competent’ marking on her Bar Vocational Course.

And it was alleged that she produced a forged instrument to Robin Hooper, employed by Guildford Borough Council to conduct an independent internal inquiry, indicating that that she had passed a Bar Vocational Course.