Deutsche Bank action on 'gay, race insults'

DEUTSCHE Bank is being taken to court tomorrow by one of its City financial high-fliers in a landmark gay and race discrimination case that threatens to drag the giant investment bank's reputation through the mud.

The German-owned bank risks a seven-figure payout if it loses the case in which Sid Saeed claims to have suffered a litany of homophobic abuse at the hands of his colleagues, lost out on promotion and been forced into prolonged sick leave.

Deutsche is trying to ban the public from attending this week's preliminary tribunal hearing, the Evening Standard has learned, at which the bank is accused of allowing its staff to make comments about Saeed, the tamest of which included 'queer boy', 'mincer boy' and 'pillow biter'.

The case is only the second brought to court by a gay worker that relies on 'sexual orientation' regulations which have been in force for barely a year. These specifically protect homosexuals for the first time in almost 30 years of sex discrimination laws.

Saeed claims the offensive remarks were made by senior managers, all men. At least one unnamed Deutsche executive alleged to have used the offensive terms is likely to appear as a witness in a trial that could take place as early as this autumn.

Saeed, 36 and of Pakistani origin, was employed to assess financial risk. His work trying to save the bank vast sums on a range of international projects earned him the moniker 'the Oracle'.

He was expecting to be promoted to a more deal-led role but has been on sick leave since February last year after, he claims, his sexuality became more widely known and the level of homophobic abuse increased.

In his claim form, Saeed alleges that at a dinner for senior Deutsche executives in early 2001, one said of him in his absence: 'Not only is he a Paki but he is a queer.'

Saeed's solicitor Mark Emery, of Bindman & Partners, said: 'We will be relying in particular on the new definitions of what is deemed offensive.'

Deutsche, with 8,000 London staff, says it is fully committed to diversity, adding: 'We strongly contest the proceedings being brought by Mr Saeed.'

Last month, waste management firm Cleanaway paid out £35,000 after losing a sex discrimination case brought by a gay former manager who alleged sustained homophobic abuse.