Wednesday 3 June 2009

When ‘Urgent’ Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Does…

..in fact, when it seems to mean the pace of glacial drift:
An immigration judge who had an affair with his illegally employed "chilli hot stuff" cleaner has been paid nearly £300,000 even though he has been off work for the last two-and-a-half years.
Nice work non-work if you can get it…
After the trial concluded the Office for Judicial Complaints launched a 19-month inquiry into Judge Khan's conduct, headed by Lord Phillips.

When the disciplinary report was published last May it concluded that no further action should be taken against Judge Khan, as employing an illegal immigrant was not strong enough grounds to sack him.
Well, of course! I mean, it’s not like that sort of thing brings immigration judges into disrepute, is it?

Well, not that much more disrepute than any of their other actions in their day job, anyway.

And nineteen months to investigate! If he’d got her pregnant, the kid would literally have been celebrating it’s first birthday by the time the verdict came in. That’s utterly unacceptable.
Judge Khan went on sick leave as soon as the inquiry concluded, being paid his full annual salary of £111,155.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the case was being "urgently reviewed".

The spokesman said: "Judge Khan has remained on full salary since sick leave began in May 2008 and we are now looking at this case."
You’re now looking at it? A full year later?

Don’t rush, will you? You might strain something…

9 comments:

Rob said...

So, committing a criminal offence isn't enough to be sacked from being a judge. Okay...

My guess is that Judge Khan has aimed two missiles at the government - one, the threat of a nasty race-discrimination suit, however ludicrous, and two, he knows where all the bodies are buried regarding immigration fuck-ups and lies from the government.

Rob said...

"Judge Khan's poor health warranted against there being a more in-depth investigation."

Owww. Call me cynical, but I predict a miracle recovery coming up...

Once again, one rule for the political class, another for the rest of us. At least they didn't try the "ignorant of the law" defence, that would truly have been taking the piss.

Dave H said...

"...Six months later she was cleared, after the Old Bailey heard that the two judges were too ill to give evidence against her."

What a complete ****ing farce.

Umbongo said...

Apparently, according to this report Judge Khan's mistress - also an immigration judge and also "blackmailed" [see below] by Khan's cleaner - was (in 2006 when this whole thing became public) a "twice married mother of two in her fifties earning almost £120,000 a year, is on extended sick leave". Is she still on sick leave?

The cleaner and "blackmailer" was eventually acquitted since the CPS, "in the light of new evidence", declined to present any evidence at a proposed new trial.

JuliaM said...

"So, committing a criminal offence isn't enough to be sacked from being a judge. "

Guess not...

"My guess is that Judge Khan has aimed two missiles at the government.."

Almost certainly!

"Is she still on sick leave?"

Is there anyone in the department who's NOT on sick leave might be a better question!

I agree with Dave H, it's a bigger farce than anything Brian Rix ever starred in...

marc said...

As far as I am aware they are not even real judges. They are allowed to call themselves 'judges' to make themselves feel important. Of course I could be wrong!!

Sue said...

Doesn't anyone in authority know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour any longer? Don't any of them get punished for breaking the law?

Who has decided that he should continue to be paid this huge amount of money for sitting on his backside?

The "one rule for them and another for us" culture really has come into it's own under this government.

North Northwester said...

Sue.
The "one rule for them and another for us" culture really has come into it's own under this government.

It's a reversion to aristocracy, with the political class at the head and the chavs as an ever-present threat of violence at the bottom...

Of course, quite which body parts that makes those of us in the middle, I'm not quite sure...


Answer, please..

Rob said...

It's like living in the 18th century, but with drinkable water and central heating.