The former managing director was sacked for alleged misconduct
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The former managing director of Fuji Xerox Singapore who was fired for alleged misconduct is suing the company for $1.5million.
Sacked just three months before his last day of employment, Bert Wong claims he was unfairly dismissed and that Xerox had breached their employment contract.
He accused the company of using the alleged misconduct to prematurely dismiss him and avoid a $1.2million payout. Wong denies any misconduct.
The total amount claimed of $1.5million would cover the missed payout, salary, bonus and compensation for loss of benefits.
Last September, he was told that the company’s global internal audit division and external auditors would be investigating him.
Wong, who was on medical leave between 3 and 17 October, was suspended on 19 October. The next day, he discovered his email account disabled and guessed about his suspension. The account was later restored.
Wong postponed several meetings with the auditors, citing ill health, and finally met the auditors on 30 November. However, he left halfway as he was feeling unwell.
On 21 December, he was dismissed, with Xerox stating his handling of past transactions as grounds for immediate termination.
Early this year, Wong told the high court that the company failed to give specific reasons and evidence for the misconduct. He also said they failed to give him a chance to respond and claimed that he was embarrassed and distressed due to the firing.
According to The Straits Times, Fuji Xerox defended itself saying that auditors wanted to give Wong a chance to respond to the claims but he had left too early.
Xerox’s lawyers said Wong’s past transactions caused the company to suffer from losses and damages which were grounds enough for the dismissal.
Wong countered that the transactions were necessary business risks that had no apparent red flags when they were signed off.
