Resort Engineer Fired Over Extortion Allegations
A downtown Nassau resort's decision to fire its former chief engineer, Preston Clarke, has been upheld by the Industrial Tribunal.
The tribunal agreed that Clarke's misconduct was "so serious as to justify" his dismissal after he allegedly demanded that a third-party contractor pay $45,000 to himself and his wife.
Clarke threatened the contractor would not be awarded any more work at the Nassau Street property unless it paid the money into the couple's "personal accounts".
Clarke did not deny receiving the money while on vacation in Cuba, but only returned $30,000 of the sum paid by Ritchie's Development.
- Clarke claimed the remaining $15,000 was paid to a plumber for plumbing supplies, but no records of the transaction were produced.
- The tribunal rejected Clarke's claim for wrongful and unfair dismissal.
Author's summary: Engineer fired for extortion.