BA flight attendant accused of theft sues for unfair dismissal

[Foreigner]

Sacked British Airways steward accused of stealing £23,000 from First Class passenger's briefcase claims the money 'never existed' | Mail Online

Sacked first class flight attendant sues airline for unfair dismissal over claim of stealing cash from passenger. Evidence seems circumstantial.

 

[eastwest101]

Something very suspiscious going on here - my BS antennae were twitching before I even I read:

"The incident was said to have happened on a five-and-a-half hour overnight flight from Lagos, Nigeria to Heathrow in London on April 10, 2011" and

"The hearing in Reading, Berkshire, was told by Kirsten Barry, representing BA, that the £65,000 cash was counted twice in front of the customer and an accountant in Nigeria. Both made sworn statements to police, she said.
It remained with the passenger throughout the journey, including airport security in Nigeria and West London.

The passenger travelled from Heathrow to a hotel in upmarket Mayfair, London, when he realised half his cash was missing. He was due to fly out to Switzerland to purchase watches."

I can see this as some sort of derivative of a scam, not sure whom is being scammed yet - the Flight Attendant, someone in Nigeria, British Airways or even the British justice system. At the very least we have a couple of perjury cases come out of this as well as a possible unlawful dismissal. Time will tell.

 

[Ansett]

If an incoming passenger is carrying more than a certain amount of money then shouldnt they be required to declare it to customs? Given the amount that is in question one would have thought it would definitely need to be declared.

If he failed to declare it then one could presume that it was not legitit and or indeed never existed. Very Very Strange

 

[Major]

I must admit that as soon as I read the money was coming from Nigeria I thought this may well be the proceeds from some scam. Then I read the final destination is Switzerland

Yeah right.....hmmm

 

[mannej]

We are talking about Nigeria and money here...

One word comes to mind

 

[TonyHancock]

We are talking about Nigeria and money here...

One word comes to mind

It is a phrase for me:

"The Lads from Lagos"

 

[Hvr]

Surely part of any investigation would be to determine if the 'owner' obtained the money legally? it would be a part of them proving they actually had it to begin with.