Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT Held or Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT Pronouncements
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT considered an appeal by the Secretary-General on the matter of the interest. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT held that Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT has the power to award interest but erred in ordering the payment of interest at the rate of eight per cent per annum. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT allowed the appeal in part, set aside the award of interest from the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT judgment, and awarded interest at the US Prime Rate applicable at the date that the entitlements became due. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT held that if the judgment was not executed within 60 days, five per cent should be added to the US Prime Rate from the date of expiry of the 60-day period to the date of payment of the grants.
Decision Contested or Judgment/Order Appealed
Mr Iannelli challenged the decision not to pay him an assignment grant and relocation grant. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT found in Mr Iannelli¡¯s favour and ordered the Secretary-General to pay him both grants and interest at the rate of eight per cent per annum from the date the payments fell due.
Legal Principle(s)
Both Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT have the power to award interest in the normal course of ordering compensation. The award of interest by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµDT and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµAT is necessary to ensure that payments to staff are made by the Organisation.