A highly embarrassing case for the Dutch international bank ABN Amro began in the Employment Tribunal last week when a former compliance and legal officer at the bank's London branch brought a case under the 'whistle-blower's act'.

Thomas Conlon is suing for unfair dismissal under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. This is the so-called whistle-blower's act which came into force in July 1998. Its purpose is to protect employees who fear victimisation for trying to alert bosses to problems.