HOWARD Mollison, the acting chairman of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), which has been experiencing sporadic outbreaks of industrial unrest in an ongoing quarrel between the staff and its board of commissioners, has instructed Charles Ganga-Singh not to return to his post as legal officer.

“….the board of commissioners have concluded that there is an irreconciliable loss of trust and confidence in your ability to perform your duties and have voted to terminate your services…,” Mollison said in a letter to Ganga-Singh, a copy of which was obtained by the Observer.

The letter was not copied to the other five commissioners who comprise the board.

The instructions, which took immediate effect, were issued on Monday, a week ahead of a judicial review to determine whether the board of the BGLC had wrongfully cashiered its chief accountant, Patrick Hall.

Hall, who has over 18 years of service with the commission, was told to go under controversial circumstances which triggered protests by his colleagues. They said that he was being made a scapegoat for authorising a number of tax cuts when, in fact, he had been sanctioned to do so. However, he went back to work under an injunction issued by Supreme Court judge David Pitter, who said he was to continue in the post, pending a resolution of the issue in the Judicial Review Court.

Among the reasons outlined for Ganga-Singh’s dismissal was his decision to send Hall a copy of the legal opinion he wrote when the board fired him.

According to usually reliable sources, Ganga-Singh was simply carrying out the duties outlined in his job description.

“His job description says he is to give all executive members opinions on questions of law as they arise… and Patrick Hall is an executive member of the commission,” said an insider.

However, Mollison said in his letter that Ganga-Singh should not have.

“The commissioners found unconvincing, your explanation… for providing simultaneously to the commissioners and to Mr Patrick Hall, your opinion on the injunction filed on behalf of Mr Hall against the commission,” he said.

Mollison also accused Ganga-Singh of improperly withdrawing charges of illegal book gaming and bookmaking against one Lee Braham six months ago.

Wednesday, when the Observer contacted Ganga-Singh, his only comment was: “My attorney, Bert Samuels, is dealing with the matter. You may get in touch with him.”

Samuels was unavailable for comment.