Manx Telecom group chief financial officer Danyal Bakhshi has been suspended from his role.

He is the subject of criminal proceedings unrelated to his duties at Manx Telecom.

In accordance with company procedure, Manx Telecom’s board has suspended Mr Bakhshi on a precautionary basis pending investigations which are being carried out.

The board will keep his suspension under review and will aim to make the period of suspension no longer than is reasonably necessary.

The board has agreed that chief executive officer Gary Lamb, formerly chief financial officer, will serve as group CFO on an interim basis.

As the Manx Independent reported yesterday, Mr Bakhshi, who’s 50 years old and lives in Port St Mary, is to stand trial after he was accused of trying to import cannabis with a street value of £196 from Amsterdam.

A pre-trial review is due on October 3. He has been bailed till that date.