Another accountant fined for not looking after business data

Date: 22nd August 2008

Another accountant has been prosecuted under the Data Protection Act, as the Information Commissioner's Officer (ICO) continues to focus on the actions of tax professionals.

Accountancy Age reported that the ICO prosecuted Middlesex accountant Satish Lakhani for failing to properly register with the office under the terms of the Data Protection Act.

Current rules state that all firms which process individuals' personal information should 'notify' with the ICO.

However, despite repeated reminders, Mr Lakhani failed to register with the commissioner.

"The Data Protection Act gives us all important rights, ensuring that organisations process and protect our personal information properly," explained Mick Gorrill, assistant commissioner at the ICO

"Notifying as a data controller under the Data Protection Act is an important obligation for any organisation which processes personal information."

In total, Mr Lakhani was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £483.40.

Recently, London-based accountant Aziz Arian was fined £400 for a similar offence.

At the time, Mr Gorrill said: "The Information Commissioner's Office stands ready to use its powers to prosecute the small minority of businesses that flout the Act by failing to notify with the ICO."