Olympus faces whistleblower at London tribunal (update2)

OLYMPUS NEWS UPDATE 1 March 2012: Woodford arrived at the tribunal earlier today in a hearing expected to last around two hours. The session was closed to reporters, though subsequent hearings are expected to be open to the media

[Earlier 22 February article continues from here]

It will be a far cry from Tokyo. Olympus scandal whistleblower Michael Woodford is next week expected to take on his former employer at an unfair dismissal hearing in Stratford, East London.

Amateur Photographer (AP) has learned that the offices of the East London Tribunal Service will be the setting for an initial administrative hearing, set to take place on Thursday 1 March.

It is fitting perhaps that the building is situated in the shadow of another upcoming battleground, the London 2012 Olympic Stadium.

In an interview with AP, the former Olympus president and CEO said he expects the firm?s lawyers to be out in force at the tribunal hearings, as international investigations continue into one of the largest scandals in Japanese corporate history.

Olympus attributed Woodford?s high-profile sacking, on 14 October 2011, to a clash of management styles.

Woodford (pictured) said he was dismissed after alerting Olympus directors to dubious acquisition payments ? via a series of six letters he had written ? and then confronting his colleagues at a board meeting.

An Olympus spokesperson told AP: ?In view of legal proceedings, we are unable to provide comment.?

Last week, Woodford described as ?vindication? news that seven officials had been arrested in connection with the £1.1 billion accounting cover-up.

AP understands that the hearing will take place in London, E14, as it is the nearest tribunal office to Woodford?s UK base, and that it will not be open to the public.

A spokesperson for the Tribunals Service declined to comment.

CLICK HERE FOR EXCLUSIVE AP INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL WOODFORD, FEBRUARY 2012

CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO STORIES ABOUT OLYMPUS SCANDAL

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLES ABOUT MICHAEL WOODFORD

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