The leading Catholic charity Cafod has sacked a staff member after it emerged that he was among former Oxfam employees accused of sexually exploiting vulnerable people in Haiti in 2011.
Cafod (Catholic Agency For Overseas Development) said that it had been 'unaware' of the claims until contacted this week by the Times newspaper about the man, who reportedly applied to work for the charity in 2014.
References were provided from his previous employers including someone the man said was a former line manager from Oxfam, Cafod said.
He was dismissed yesterday after Oxfam confirmed claims that he was among its former staff members who had been accused of sexual misconduct.
Cafod said that it was 'committed to a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct' and that the man's failure to disclose the circumstances of his departure from Oxfam were in breach of the Catholic charity's code of behaviour.
Cafod has also reviewed two historical cases of sexual misconduct allegations against other employees, with one yielding no evidence and the other seeing a staff member dismissed.
Chris Bain, Cafod's director, said: 'The Times newspaper on 10 February wrote that a current Cafod employee was named as an Oxfam staff member who had been working in Haiti in 2011, amidst accusations of sexual misconduct.'
He said: 'After concerns were raised...the staff member has been put on leave while we examine the issues raised and follow our code of behaviour protocol to determine the next steps.'
Bain emphasised that Cafod had a zero-tolerance approach to breaches of its behaviour code and robust safeguarding and whistleblowing policies.
'It is disheartening that the actions of a few unscrupulous aid workers might undermine trust in the life-saving work done by overseas development and humanitarian agencies, including Cafod, working alongside some of the poorest communities and helping them live life to the fullest,' he said.
An Oxfam spokesperson said: 'Oxfam has not and would not provide a positive reference for any of those who were dismissed or resigned as a result of the case.'
Meanwhile, in the latest high profile developments surrounding Oxfam, the Sengalese singer Baaba Maal told BBC Newsnight that he is standing down from his role as a global ambassador to Oxfam after six years.
The singer said he found the sex abuse claims 'disgusting and heartbreaking', adding that he was 'disassociating' himself from Oxfam 'immediately'.
Maal was one of 14 global ambassadors for Oxfam International who include the singer Annie Lennox, the band Coldplay, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the model Helena Christensen.
However, the Glastonbury festival founder Michael Eavis defended Oxfam, calling it a 'wonderful' charity.
Speaking at the NME Awards, he said the festival had raised £6 million for the charity and that 'a few dodgy people' should not discredit its good work.
Earlier yesterday, the actress Minnie Driver stood down from her ambassador role with Oxfam, saying she was 'nothing short of horrified' by the allegations.
