Fletcher says ex-staff terminated for trying to sell illegal drugs

Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Allan Fletcher has disclosed that a former CUC employee who is suing him, CUC, and several others was terminated for offering to sell illegal drugs.

Fletcher, through counsel assistant attorney general David Lochabay, denied that plaintiff Zaji O. Zajradhara was terminated from CUC on pre-textual grounds.

In Fletcher’s answer and defenses to Zajradhara’s lawsuit, Lochabay said the plaintiff was discharged for, among other things, attempting to sell a controlled substance to another while in a CUC vehicle.

Lochabay said Zajradhara was constantly complaining and that his complaints had no merit.

He said plaintiff’s many complaints were investigated and appropriately resolved.

Lochabay asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to hold Zajradhara liable to pay Fletcher attorney’s fees as his suit “is frivolous, unreasonable, and/or without foundation.”

Lochabay said Fletcher’s decisions in this matter were governed by legitimate nondiscriminatory purposes.

Lochabay said Zajradhara failed to comply with the directions and internal rules and regulations pertaining to his duties and those of other employees.

The plaintiff has filed a lawsuit after he was allegedly subjected to a hostile work place, such as placing a cockroach on his desk and other employees calling him “gay.”

Zajradhara is suing CUC, Fletcher, and 10 unnamed co-defendants for whistle blower/wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of the Americans with Disability Act.

In a pro se complaint or filed without a lawyer, Zajradhara asked the court to hold the defendants liable to pay him damages and court costs.

The plaintiff said CUC initially hired him as a trades technician/operator in October 2012, but he was moved into various positions, including warehouse man, fuel handler, and trouble shooter for the water division.

He said that CUC terminated him on Oct. 24, 2014, on the pre-textual ground of possession and conveyance of illegal drugs, in violation of CUC drug and alcohol policy.

Zajradhara said during his employment, he became aware of various violations of public policies, laws, regulations and policies committed by the defendants.

Zajradhara said at the work place, a racially offensive poster was placed, a cockroach was put on his desk, and employees called him “gay” and other slurs.

He said defendants succeeded in terminating him on Oct. 24, 2014, by accusing him of trying to sell marijuana to an off-duty police officer.

Zajradhara also claimed he suffers from disability as he has post traumatic stress disorder, bi-polar disorder, and an injury to the right upper shoulder, and upper back.