A high-ranking Asian official at Bradford Council was sacked because of gross misconduct, an employment tribunal heard.

Mohammed Masood, Bradford West area co-ordinator, who is of Muslim-Bangladeshi origin, is pursuing a claim of race discrimination and victimisation against the authority and one of his bosses, Mark Foster.

He was sacked in 1998 after complaints that he bullied junior staff. He was later reinstated in his job.

The tribunal in Leeds heard Mr Masood was sacked after a disciplinary hearing into allegations of personal harassment.

Mark Foster, head of community development services at the Council, was nominated to chair the hearing. "As a result of serious allegations by two members of the applicant's staff, an investigation was carried out," he said.

Mr Foster added that Mr Masood was found to have failed to treat staff with dignity and respect and used threatening behaviour and verbal abuse.

"His defence was that his behaviour had been reasonable and was more a matter of perception than reality," added Mr Foster.

In 1996 a previous complaint by Mr Masood of race discrimination was settled by the Council.

Mr Masood said he believed Mr Foster had known of his previous complaint. Mr Foster denied this.

"Dismissal is an extreme sanction not to be used lightly," Mr Foster added. He said he consulted personnel as to whether similar disciplinary cases had occurred in the past. He said he was told none had occurred for personal harassment.

The tribunal continues.

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