Former UN auditor awarded damages for harassment

July 18, 2009
The Associated Press
Original Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gWogw-WZaXK_-eleBuzXDBLtZHCQD99H48V00 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gWogw-WZaXK_-eleBuzXDBLtZHCQD99H48V00
GENEVA — A U.N. labor tribunal ordered the global body's weather agency to pay damages to a former auditor fired in 2006 after clashing with the organization's top official over a corruption probe.
The panel ordered the Geneva-based World Meteorological Organization to pay Maria Veiga of Portugal 215,000 Swiss francs ($200,000) in exemplary, material and moral damages and legal costs after hearing her complaint of wrongful dismissal and harassment.
The eight-member panel also instructed World Meteorological Organization, which coordinates the study of the world's weather and climate, to pay Veiga's salary plus interest between Nov. 2006 and May 2007.
But in its July 8 ruling the panel rejected Veiga's claim she was dismissed for whistleblowing.
Veiga claimed she was blocked from pursuing her investigation, received intimidating phone calls and was threatened with legal action before being dismissed by weather agency. The agency had originally appointed Veiga to investigate the disappearance of over $3 million, allegedly stolen by a former agency official who later fled to Sudan.
After her dismissal, Veiga told reporters that some of the money appeared to have been used to influence votes for the 2003 election of the agency's new secretary-general, a claim the World Meteorological Organization described as completely unfounded and defamatory.
Neither Veiga nor her lawyer could immediately be reached for comment on the ruling, which was seen on the Internet Saturday.
A spokeswoman for the World Meteorological Organization, Carine Richard-van Maele, said the agency would comply with the tribunal's ruling.