Adila Chowan: a champion for whistle-blowers

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- NADIA KHAN [e-mail]

WHISTLE-BLOWER Adila Chowan, who was the group financial executive manager of Associated Motor Holdings, a subsidiary of Imperial Holdings Limited, had filed a discrimination case in the North Gauteng High Court.

She had taken Associated Motor Holdings, as well as Imperial Holdings Limited and its chief executive officer, Mark Lamberti, to court and won her case in 2018.

Chowan said despite being a chartered accountant with motor industry experience, she was overlooked on two occasions to the appointment of the chief financial officer.

“When I raised my concerns, Lamberti addressed me as a ‘black female employment equity’ and that if | was not happy I should consider options external to the organisation. He failed to recognise that I am a qualified chartered accountant and held numerous executive positions.

“He then went on to appoint a white male who did not have motor industry experience. Lamberti asked me to ensure that I trained the male into the chief financial officer position which I had acted in.

“I wrote a grievance to the board chairman of Imperial. Instead of independently investigating my complaint about racism, the board allowed Lamberti to appoint a legal firm to investigate my complaint. Subsequently, the same law firm drafted trumped-up charges of misconduct relating to my complaint, and dismissed me,” she said.

Chowan said the high court found that she was a whistle-blower.