SECRETARY-GENERAL TAKES NOTE OF FINDINGS OF INVESTIGATION INTO DILEEP NAIR,

 

FORMER HEAD OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Staff Council, in February 2005, made serious allegations against Dileep Nair, then Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, concerning violations of rules, regulations and administrative issuances regarding appointments and promotions in the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).  At the request of the Secretary-General, an outside investigation was undertaken by Jerome Ackerman, former President of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal, and John Vanderstar.  The time it took to complete the investigation was regrettably longer than was expected.  On 1 May 2006, the Deputy Secretary-General, on behalf of the Secretary-General, received the report of the investigation.  The Secretary-General transmitted the report to Mr. Nair, through his lawyers, for comments.

The main conclusions of the report are that the investigation found no evidence supporting the regrettable anonymous allegations of improper payment by one senior staff member to Mr. Nair, or improper sexual behaviour on the part of Mr. Nair and another staff member.  The report, however, found that, in two cases involving appointment and promotion in OIOS, it appeared that Mr. Nair had predetermined the outcome of the selection process.  In other promotion cases, the investigation refrained from drawing any conclusions, with respect to legal issues pending before the Joint Appeals Board.

The investigation report and Mr. Nair’s comments were thoroughly reviewed by the Secretary-General.  He took note of the findings and conclusions of the report, as well as Mr. Nair’s comments.  The Secretary-General decided that there was no further action to be taken by him in the case and, accordingly, decided the matter closed.  Mr. Nair and the President of the Staff Council have been informed of the decision.  The full report and Mr. Nair’s comments thereon, as well as the two letters have been made public.

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For information media • not an official record