On face value this situation should have been clear. Our client’s Financial Controller had, over a number of months, written out cheques to cash which he had then cashed with his employer’s cash office and pocketed the money. He then entered fake supplier invoices on the purchase ledger system and allocated the cash amounts he had stolen against these fake invoices. He stole in excess of £140,000. Given the serious nature of the complaints, seniority of the employee concerned and the potential severity of the sanction we advised that a thorough investigation into the matter. We also ensured that our client followed the ACAS Code of Practice to the letter. Following an investigation by our client’s auditors which included a handwriting analysis of the relevant cheque stubs he was summarily dismissed. He was also arrested by the Police and charged with fraud. Nonetheless, he submitted a Tribunal claim for unfair dismissal. Thanks to the thoroughness of the investigation, procedural compliance and the strength of the evidence gathered the claim was ‘struck out’ and a costs award was made in favour of our client.
