Lamb breaks silence over Azlan

Adrian Lamb, Azlan former group finance director, has dealt a further blow to the distributor after issuing a writ claiming alleged breach of contract and wrongful dismissal.

The writ was the latest sting in the tail for the networking distributor, which has fallen under the scrutiny of the Serious Fraud Office for suspected offences of false accounting for the period ended 5 April 1997 (PC Dealer, 22 April).

According to the writ, which was issued at the High Court on 28 January, Lamb is claiming #154,304 for the period up to 30 October 1997, when he officially left Azlan. The sum includes #123,977 for 12 months' salary and #30,327 in bonuses, including health cover, telephone expenses and fuel benefit.

He was previously employed as group finance director until 25 April 1997 before taking on the role of director and company secretary. However, on 16 June 1997, Lamb resigned from the board but was kept on until October to assist in an internal investigation concerning year-end results.

Lamb stated: 'I resigned from my post as group financial director on 25 April on the appointment of Peter Bertram (Azlan group financial director) before any of Azlan's problems were known, never mind anything else, and was asked to head up the operation finance team in York.'

He added: 'The claim is for breach of contract and for damages to do with the fact that the contract has not been honoured to the net amount.'

However, a source said: 'Azlan had discussed the issues with Lamb on the grounds he had failed to carry out his duties as group financial director and the company saw it as negligible.'

The source added: 'Lamb had undergone internal disciplinary procedures and was dismissed due to failure to exercise his job.'

Lamb said: 'As a result of issues that the auditors (KPMG) and I unearthed, and because it is a Plc company, I resigned - but I was involved in the company's business plans.'

Azlan refused to comment.