Subsequent to Port Development and Shipping Minister Hakeem’s disputed decision to replace a senior ministry official with another attached to the same ministry, the official facing the axe wrote to Office of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption asking details of an ongoing probe on the conduct of his possible replacement, The Sunday Island learns.

The official has requested the commission to forward relevant documents relating to the bribery allegations with a view to submitting them to the Ministry of Public Administration for necessary action. While agreeing that the official was under investigation, the commission has declined to make available the relevant documents pointing out that it us legally bound to maintain secrecy of investigations.

Shortly after writing to the commission, the official facing the axe also wrote to Minister Hakeem pointing out several reasons he should not be replaced with the man under investigation, the sources said, adding that the minister did not like what the three page contained.

It was pointed out that he was given a key ministry appointment despite a pending bribery case against him. The cabinet was not informed of the ongoing case at the time the appointment was made. The minister’s choice was also accused of withholding information with regard to the decision not to acquire anymore tug boats to the SLPA without calling for public tenders.

Among several other allegations was the claim that he sexually harassed an employee when he was attached to department which at that time came under the Defence Ministry. Since the new government came in last December, it has been brought under the Interior Ministry.

The minister has submitted a cabinet paper requesting President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s approval for his nominee. However, the president has not responded favourably to his request yet, the sources said, adding that it would not be subjected to her attention as she was away on a private visit.