Top Official Suspended After Standard Investigation Into Alleged Bid-rigging
Officials for the city attorney and controller’s offices are initiating an independent review after San Francisco’s chief assistant treasurer, Tajel Shah, was placed on paid leave for allegedly allowing personal relationships to influence a contract to help manage $2.6 billion in business taxes. The Standard launched an investigation into whistleblower allegations of conflicts of interest and bid-rigging at the tax collection agency prompting the action.
Joan Harrington, a former director and current fellow at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, called Shah’s alleged dealings and lack of transparency throughout the contracting process “extraordinary.”
“At the very least, she violated her duty as an employee by not being transparent in the process, and it obviously had an impact,” Harrington said.
Ethics Center Fellow, Joan Harrington, quoted by The Standard.