A former Law Society president is to face criminal charges alleging that he created a false identity and forged a passport to undermine a disciplinary investigation, it has emerged, in the latest twist in the long-running row between ex-Chancery Lane figures.

Robert Sayer is due to appear in court this month after allegedly sending an e-mail as ‘Thomas Fernando’ to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, claiming that former Law Society vice president Kamlesh Bahl had brought the profession into disrepute.