A London estate agent has won an unfair dismissal case against agency Felicity J Lord at a tribunal hearing this week during which comments by parent company Spicerhaart’s CEO were heard as were details of a complaint by Rightmove.

Senior branch manager Abul Samad, 39, worked at the agency’s Bow offices in London but resigned in February last year because he believed the company had mismanaged an earlier disciplinary procedure against him over disputed commission payments.

During the disciplinary process Samad claimed that Felicity J Lord bosses had instructed him to advertise houses online that were not for sale to help gain bonuses or commissions. He also claimed that Rightmove had complained to the company about the practice.

When launching his claim in March, Samad also said the company was keen to make its results look as good as possible ahead of a possible stock market flotation, the Evening Standard has reported. Asad, who has since set up his own estate agency in London, also accused his former employer of racial and religious discrimination as well as victimisation over his whistleblowing, all claims that Felcity J Lord denied.

Held at the East London Tribunal Hearing Centre, Samad’s tribunal ruled that he had been unfairly dismissed. It heard that Samad had been told that disciplinary proceedings against him would be stopped if he withdrew his discrimination and whistleblowing claims. But the tribunal did not find that had been discriminated against because of either race or religion, or because he whistle-blew.

Samad, who initially sued parent group Spicerhaart for £500,000, will now have to wait for a remedy hearing to find out the level of compensation he will receive.

“I have been deeply concerned about the allegations made by Sam Samad and am pleased and reassured that the Employment Tribunal found that, contrary to his assertions, Mr Samad had not been discriminated in any way whatsoever due to his race or religion, had not been victimised and had not had any wages unlawfully deducted or contractual sum withheld from him,” says Spicerhaart CEO Paul Smith.

“The Tribunal also found that Mr Samad had not been dismissed due to any whistle-blowing, a finding which reflects the seriousness with which Spicerhaart considered and investigated the matters raised by Mr Samad.

“It is obviously a concern that the Tribunal determined that Mr Samad had been unfairly dismissed and Spicerhaart will be reviewing its processes and procedures in order to remedy the areas identified by the Tribunal. Spicerhaart is a private, independent company that values ethical behaviour and strives for the highest business standards.”