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UNDT/2010/052

UNDT/2010/052, Lutta

UNAT Held or UNDT Pronouncements

Pursuant to section 3 of ST/AI/371, in determining if the preliminary investigation appears to indicate that the report of misconduct is well founded, the head of office or responsible officer is vested with a wide discretion. That discretion is to be exercised judiciously in the light of what the investigation has revealed. The discretion cannot and should not be used capriciously. It is incumbent on the person vested with that discretion to scrutinise the evidence carefully before deciding whether any act of misconduct as defined has been committed. A judicious exercise ofthe discretion requires a proper analysis of the meaning of the words appears to indicate that the report of misconduct is well founded in regard to the evidence. The European Court of Human Rights has stated that having reasonable suspicion presupposes the existence of facts or information which would satisfy an objective observer that the person concerned may have committed the offence. It is the view of the Tribunal that the same approach should be adopted in the exercise of the discretion given to the head of office or the responsible officer in determining whether the report of misconduct is well founded following the investigation. The conduct of the preliminary investigation should demonstrate the investigator’s commitment to ascertaining the facts of the case. The rules of fairness should also be complied with and this requires the gathering of all relevant facts whether incriminating or exculpatory. In the Tribunal’s view, in addition to a breathalyzer test, other tests such as a blood analysis test (blood alcohol concentration test), urine analysis and overall behavior may be utilized provided that in the latter case those behaviors tested comply with international standards.

Decision Contested or Judgment Appealed

On 11 November 2007, the Applicant was involved in a traffic accident in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire while driving an official Ãå±±½ûµØvehicle. It was alleged that the Applicant was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time, which caused the said accident. The Applicant filed this application requesting the Tribunal to Order that he be compensated for the impediment to his career advancement, as well as moral and professional damage caused by the charges being negligently and wrongfully leveled against him for such a protracted period of time.

Legal Principle(s)

N/A

Outcome
Judgment entered for Applicant in full or in part
Outcome Extra Text

The Parties are directed to provide written submissions as to the appropriate relief that should be ordered.

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The judgment summaries were generally prepared in English. They were translated into French and are being reviewed for accuracy of the translation.

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