Former Salesman Offers Bribe – Irish Times Story
- A former solarwinds salesman, Ali Izzy, is pursuing claims of unfair dismissal and protected disclosure against the Cork-headquartered IT multinational.
- Izzy alleges he was offered a "bribe" by a middleman connected to a distributor who reportedly benefited from a substantial discount - potentially hundreds of thousands of euro...
- Evidence presented at the WRC hearing indicates that Abdul Rehman, the former sales director for the Middle East, reported Mr.
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solarwinds Dismissal Case: Allegations of Bribes and Discount Irregularities in Middle East Contracts
Table of Contents
Updated September 16, 2025, 23:54:51
Overview
A former solarwinds salesman, Ali Izzy, is pursuing claims of unfair dismissal and protected disclosure against the Cork-headquartered IT multinational. The case,currently before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in Cork, centers on allegations of a bribe offer related to a discounted contract with an Arab government ministry. The dispute arose following internal complaints of insubordination against mr. Izzy, leading to his dismissal in summer 2024.
The Allegations
Mr. Izzy alleges he was offered a “bribe” by a middleman connected to a distributor who reportedly benefited from a substantial discount – potentially hundreds of thousands of euro – on a contract with an Arab government ministry.The specific ministry and country involved have not yet been publicly disclosed in reports. The core of the claim suggests an attempt to improperly influence a sales process through illicit payments.
Evidence presented at the WRC hearing indicates that Abdul Rehman, the former sales director for the Middle East, reported Mr. Izzy to HR following concerns about his conduct. Mr.Rehman testified that he made the report after Mr. Izzy’s actions.
Key Players
- Ali Izzy: Former SolarWinds salesman based in Cork, managing business in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Bahrain. The claimant in the case.
- Abdul Rehman: Former Sales Director for the Middle East at SolarWinds. Reported Mr. Izzy to HR.
- SolarWinds: The Cork-headquartered IT multinational defending the claims.
- The Middleman/Distributor: Currently unnamed parties alleged to have benefited from the discounted contract and involved in the alleged bribe offer.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Summer 2024 | Ali Izzy dismissed from SolarWinds following internal complaints of ”insubordination”. |
| prior to Summer 2024 | Alleged bribe offer made to Mr.Izzy by a middleman related to a discounted contract. |
| Ongoing (as of Sept 16, 2025) | Hearing before the Workplace Relations Commission in Cork. |
Legal Framework
The case is being pursued under two key pieces of Irish legislation:
- Unfair Dismissals Act 1977: Mr. Izzy claims his dismissal was unfair.
- Protected Disclosures Act 2014: Mr. Izzy asserts he was dismissed after making a protected disclosure – reporting wrongdoing within the organization.
The Protected Disclosures Act 2014, also known as the Whistleblower Protection Act, aims to encourage individuals to report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation. Successful claims under this act can result in significant penalties for employers.