Whistleblower sues Irish subsidiary of JPMorgan Bank

A senior manager at a subsidiary of JPMorgan Bank has alleged she was unfairly suspended and is facing possible dismissal after she raised concerns that her employer was not complying with the Central Bank’s anti-money laundering policies.

Rachel Curtis was "escorted off" the premises after being told her complaints were being investigated, the High Court heard.

Ms Curtis is senior credit and risk officer and vice-president at Chase Paymentech Europe, a Dublin-based subsidiary providing services including processing payments to online retailers for JPMorgan. She has held that post since 2009 on a annual package of €170,000.

In proceedings initiated yesterday against JPMorgan Bank (Ireland) Plc and Chase Paymentech Europe, Ms Curtis is seeking various orders, including an injunction lifting her suspension and preventing her employers taking any steps to dismiss her. She also wants orders preventing the defendants embarking on a disciplinary process against her and requiring she be allowed continue her work.

Proceedings
Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted Peter Ward SC, for Ms Curtis, permission to serve short notice of her proceedings against JP Morgan and Chase Paymentech Europe. Leave was granted on an ex-parte basis. The judge said he would not grant any orders in favour of Ms Curtis without having heard from the defendants and returned the matter to Monday.

Her senior counsel said Ms Curtis was suspended earlier this month arising out of concerns she had expressed to her superiors that the company was not complying with the Central Bank’s anti-money laundering policies.

In early November, she was informed that she was being suspended on pay in order to allow an independent investigation into her complaints