Kamil Idris: J'accuse

The argument over Kamil Idris (see recent IPKat post here, and Wikipedia profile here) appears to be hotting up. Salvatore Di Palma, former Deputy Director at WIPO, has written a "lettre ouvert", in which he openly lets rip against him on several grounds, and asks, "What have you done to WIPO, Monsieur Director?".

(Right: Kamil Idris receives a genuine honorary degree)

The accusations include (with apologies for any dodgy translation):

(i) a 2005 report by Ernst & Young indicating Idris's "totally bankrupt" approach to WIPO;

(ii) the reputation earned by his illustrious predecessor, Arpad Bogsch, being "demolished" with the aid of "a bulldozer and some unskilled workers";

(iii) 100 million CHF wasted on two IT projects;

(iv) a swimming pool paid for in cash [the IPKat says: ??!]

(v) changing his date of birth by 10 years in order to aspire to the position of Director General, in a way reminiscent of a nun aspiring to enter a convent;

(vi) transforming a surplus of 353 million CHF in 1998 to a deficit of 23 million CHF in 2004-5; and

(vii) a total absence of strategy in human resources, including granting promotions on a purely personal basis and employing people having only an approximate knowledge of the statute.

Salvatore Di Palma concludes that, to respect all those other civil servants who have dedicated their lives to their work, Kamil should do the one thing that would make them grateful, and resign.

The IPKat is amazed at the amount of vitriol being sloshed around at the moment, and wonders how this one will play out. Much of the ongoing argument appears to stem around an internal WIPO report (available here) that investigated certain alleged irregularities in Mr Idris's CV and his application to join WIPO in the early 1980s. Mr Idris's response to the report (available here) attempts to counter the accusations with his own against those who would apparently try to do him harm.

Will he stay or will he go? The IPKat is eager to find out, although he suspects that Mr Idris will not go without a fight.

For those wishing to further indulge in a bit of schadenfreude, there is a new IPKat poll up on this subject, for anyone who wants to express a view.

More schadenfreude here, here and here.