A FORMER SNP MP and business partner of Alex Salmond has been fined £3,000 after being found guilty of professional misconduct during her time as a partner at a law firm.

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh was brought before a tribunal along with fellow solicitor Alan Mickel, with whom she ran the now defunct Hamilton Burns practice.

The Law Society said they showed "disregard for the rules" when they failed to keep proper accounts of a trust established in May 2012 and sums were borrowed from the fund to assist the struggling firm.

A panel sitting in Perth heard then-director Mr Mickel, 50, and cash room manager Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, 48, believed the trust was private but an error when setting up the fund meant it was considered a client of the business.

They have been censured after a hearing of the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal (SSDT), which found both guilty of professional misconduct on Tuesday.

The former colleagues were each fined £3,000 and held liable for the expenses of the Law Society and the tribunal.

A character reference was provided for Ms Ahmed-Sheikh by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, who described her as a "fearless" as well as "honest, diligent and trustworthy".

The mother-of-four resigned from Hamilton Burns in May 2015 when she was elected MP for Ochil and South Perthshire.

She lost the seat in the 2017 general election.

Mr Mickel resigned in December 2015 after an inspection of the firm raised concerns and he was advised there had been a conflict of interest.

It was agreed there was no suggestion of dishonesty or personal benefit.

Ms Ahmed-Sheikh said in a statement after the hearing: "For nearly two years I have had to endure smear and innuendo and during the election campaign of 2017 a series of leaks suggested that I was being charged with financial impropriety and that funds had been taken from a vulnerable individual.

"Now it is admitted on all sides that there was no impropriety whatsoever and the trust has suffered no loss whatsoever.

"I am pleased that the tribunal has decided to impose the lower penalty of censure rather than striking off.

"At the hearing it has been accepted that there is no suggestion of financial impropriety or dishonesty and indeed the Law Society accepts that not only has there been no financial loss to the trust but actually a gain, and in any case funding was guaranteed by security over property."

Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, who the panel heard would like to continue her legal career, added: "For my part I am more than satisfied that it is now accepted on all sides that there is no challenge to my personal integrity."

The panel was told Mr Mickel hoped to relocate to England and become a barrister.

Since resigning from Hamilton Burns he has been carrying out consultation work for a firm in Guildford, Surrey, and working as a off-piste ski guide in France.

His lawyer William McCreath said publicity surrounding the case had been "very damaging" to the father-of-three personally and professionally, which had in part led to his marriage breaking down.

He said: "Mr Mickel's earnest desire is to continue in practice, though in a different jurisdiction."

Ms Ahmed-Sheikh is Mr Salmond's business partner in his controversial TV career.