Courts / Cork / Report

Salesman at IT multinational claimed he was offered €10k bribe, WRC hears

Date
2025-09-16

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

A Workplace Relations Commission hearing in Cork, presided over by Adjudicator Tom O'Driscoll, has been adjourned overnight. The case involves statutory complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 brought by former salesman Ali Izzy against Cork-headquartered Solar Winds. Izzy alleged he was dismissed in summer 2024 following a company probe into his management of business with clients in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Bahrain. He claimed a middle-man for a distributor offered him a €10,000 bribe related to a contract with an Arab government ministry, where a significant discount was allegedly applied. Solar Winds defended the dismissal, citing complaints of insubordination from former Middle East sales director Abdul Rehman. Rehman testified that Izzy refused to process an approved discount and revoked quotes, stating he had not received written proof of any bribe offer. Solar Winds' disciplinary officer Samantha Bengston stated the decision was based on Izzy overriding senior management directives. Counsel for Izzy argued that Rehman was aware of improper actions by the middle-man and that the discount was improperly large. The tribunal heard evidence regarding the financial details of the deal and the internal disciplinary process. No final decision was reached, and the matter was adjourned overnight.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Salesman at IT multinational claimed he was offered €10k bribe, WRC hears. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

2025-09-16 Publication

Why: "The only result I could arrive at was that it was insubordination, because he had refused the orders, as I mentioned," she said. CNI source report