![\"Erin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8c2aa5a5383c1ad52501d8e27962d76b010db17b.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
March 20, 2026 \u2014 3:15pm<\/p>\n
Save<\/p>\n
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n
Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n A Melbourne lawyer could be banned from practising as a solicitor after pleading guilty to a raft of drug and driving offences including smoking a joint before crashing his car on the way to the local library.<\/p>\n Emad Fuad Khraim, 29, faced Ringwood Magistrates\u2019 Court on Friday following two traffic incidents, one involving crashing into another motorist after smoking a joint, and the other being found in a car with various drugs.<\/p>\n The court heard that about 12.43am on August 9, police discovered a black Mercedes parked across a driveway in Malvern. When it moved about five metres to clear the driveway, police intercepted the driver, finding Khraim in the driver\u2019s seat with a passenger nearby.<\/p>\n Khraim\u2019s driver\u2019s licence was expired at the time, and he handed over his passport to confirm his identity. Police detected a strong smell of cannabis and searched the car.<\/p>\n They found 34 Valium tablets and eight oxycodone tablets in the centre console and three containers of cannabis in the glove box.<\/p>\n Khraim made full admissions at the scene and when asked why his licence was expired, he told police he believed his mother had paid to renew it. She subsequently did.<\/p>\n Days later on August 14, the court heard Khraim was driving a black Mercedes sedan along Springvale Road in Doncaster East when he attempted to perform an illegal U-turn over a solid white line, colliding with a white Volkswagen sedan about 3pm. He had a valid licence at the time.<\/p>\n As a precaution, both drivers were taken to hospital where Khraim tested positive for cannabis.<\/p>\n He told police he was driving to the library about 45 minutes after smoking a joint.<\/p>\n Khraim, a practising lawyer, also had prior convictions for unrelated matters and a driving history, the court heard.<\/p>\n Defence barrister Kate Ballard argued her client should receive a fine without conviction as he was facing the prospect of disciplinary action from the Legal Services Board, which had been notified about the case.<\/p>\n Ballard said her client had taken proactive steps to seek treatment for his issues and wanted to continue practising as a lawyer. Suspending his driver\u2019s licence for any more than 12 months, and convicting him, Ballard said, could impact this.<\/p>\n \u201cMr Khraim is a practising lawyer \u2026 he deeply regrets his conduct. People make mistakes, of course, but he\u2019s well aware that as a legal practitioner, he should be holding himself to the highest standard at all times, and has failed to do that,\u201d Ballard said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s deeply concerned he will lose the career he\u2019s worked so hard for.\u201d<\/p>\n Ballard noted her client had prior convictions for unrelated matters but pointed out Khraim was supported in court by his mother and a family friend.<\/p>\n Related Article He pleaded guilty to five charges, including careless driving, drug driving, failing to give way, possessing cannabis and possessing a drug of dependence.<\/p>\n Magistrate Caroline Boult accepted Khraim was remorseful, had taken the matters seriously and had sought treatment, which remained ongoing.<\/p>\n She said driving while having cannabis in his system, though, had put other road users at risk.<\/p>\n Boult convicted Khraim and ordered he pay a fine of $1500. His driver\u2019s licence was also cancelled and disqualified for 12 months.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Emad](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/905b0893425e5f855a176c22b1ad27d6b586c7e9.jpeg\")
Emad Khraim.LinkedIn<\/p>\n![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/63bc1975cf9fe4eb3b5df8dd40058d14eede5c07.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n