Death of Abbey 'whistleblower' investigated
Published: 21 Oct 2004 13:40 BST
An inquest is to be held into the apparent suicide of an Abbey IT worker who was being questioned over the leaking of a dossier alleging dodgy dealings in the awarding of IT contracts at the bank.
Richard Chang died after falling from the fifth floor of the atrium at Abbey's headquarters at Triton Square in London on 13 July, shortly after he was interviewed by the bank's private detective agency Kroll.
Kroll was investigating a dossier alleging financial corruption and sexual impropriety in the granting of lucrative IT contracts, which had been sent to Abbey CEO Luqman Arnold. The author of the document threatened to send it to City institutions if the claims were not investigated.
Abbey's own internal investigation into the claims cleared staff of any wrongdoing and Kroll was called in to find the source of the leak. Chang is reported to be one of four names on a list of possible suspects compiled by Abbey but less than an hour after he was interviewed by Kroll, Chang's body was found at Triton Square.
The Metropolitan Police are still investigating the incident and it is reported that tapes of Kroll's interview with Chang have been handed over. No-one at the Metropolitan Police was available for comment.
An inquest will be held at St Pancras Coroner's Court in London some time early next year. A spokesman for the court said the delay is due to "the breadth of the investigation".
It is also reported that members of Chang's family have hired Imran Khan, the renowned human rights lawyer, to represent them at the inquest.
Abbey declined to comment.
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