Former British High Commissioner Yapps his way to the bank

John Yapp

A month after a London court found that the Foreign Commonwealth Officer was wrong to suspend  former High Commissioner to Belize, John Yapp, of inappropriate behavior, the sum of money he has been awarded is being settled. Yapp is to get three hundred and twenty thousand pounds…that is about a million dollars for the allegation which he said, had ruined his diplomatic career. According to article on the online Mail, the Foreign Commonwealth officer will also have to pay legal fees of up to one hundred and fifty thousand pounds or about four hundred and sixty thousand dollars. The High Court found that the F.C.O. was wrong in suspending Yapp without hearing his side of the story for the allegation that he had a ‘bullying’ management style and had displayed inappropriate behavior towards women at social functions. Yapp was suspended in 2008, never went back to work and eventually retired.  The case dragged on for five years, but today after the award, Yapp accused the F.C.O. of trying to outspend him with taxpayers’ cash during the long battle. He said (Quote) “To have my career at its pinnacle and my future prospects destroyed so wrongly and, it seems, on a whim, made me unwell and I have had to go through this for five years now.’’ (Unquote) The Foreign Commonwealth Office said it would appeal.