UNDT/2012/039 | SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

UNDT/2012/039, Powell

UNAT Held or UNDT Pronouncements

The Tribunal held that since summary dismissal/termination may have been the possible outcome at the end of the disciplinary process, the Respondent had to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the daily casual worker (Mary) was transferred to MovCon as a result of the alleged sexual relationship between her and the Applicant. The Tribunal concluded that the facts upon which the disciplinary measure was based were not established and that the facts which were established did not legally amount to misconduct under the Regulations and Rules of the United Nations. Consequently, the Tribunal held that the disciplinary measure imposed on the Applicant was unlawful ab initio and therefore, a violation of his rights. Additionally, the Tribunal concluded that that there were procedural irregularities in the conduct of the investigation and the disciplinary proceedings that form a separate basis for awarding compensation to the Applicant.

Decision Contested or Judgment Appealed

The Applicant, a staff member of MONUSCO, is contesting the decision to demote him for reasons of misconduct. Subsequent to a Board of Inquiry and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) investigation, the Applicant was charged with four instances of alleged misconduct, including SEA, and placed on suspension. After a review of the evidence, a majority of the JDC panel found that the Applicant had engaged in a sexual relationship with a daily worker and had favoured her by actively seeking her transfer to his section, MovCon. Based on this finding, the Secretary-General found that the Applicant’s conduct constituted misconduct and imposed on him the disciplinary measure of demotion without promotion for two years.

Legal Principle(s)

N/A

Outcome

Judgment entered for Applicant in full or in part

Outcome Extra Text

The Tribunal ordered rescission of the decision to demote the Applicant. The Respondent was also ordered to compensate the Applicant for loss of earnings from the date of his demotion the date of the Tribunal’s judgment. Further, the Respondent was ordered to compensate the Applicant in the amount of one year’s net base salary for the procedural irregularities in the investigation and disciplinary process and $15,000 for moral injury caused by the excessive suspension period he endured.

OAJ prepared this case law summary for informational purposes only. It is no official record and should not be relied upon as an authoritative interpretation of the Tribunals' rulings. For the authoritative texts, please refer to the judgment or order rendered by the respective Tribunal. The Tribunals are the only bodies competent to interpret their respective judgments, as provided under Article 12(3) of the UNDT Statute and Article 11(3) of the UNAT Statute. Any inaccuracies in the publication are the sole responsibility of OAJ, which should be contacted directly for any correction requests. To provide comments, don't hesitate to get in touch with OAJ at oaj@un.org.

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

Full Judgment

Applicants/ Appellants

Powell

Entity

MONUC

Case Number(s)

UNDT/NBI/2010/006/UNAT/1575

Tribunal

UNDT

Registry Location :

Nairobi