WRONGFUL TERMINATION: Fremont City Settles Wrongful Termination Case, to Pay $125,000

April 7, 2011

Fremont - Fremont City has agreed to pay $125,000 to settle a wrongful termination case filed against it by a Muslim police officer who was allegedly removed from the department after he was interrogated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) due to possible connections to terrorists groups.

The case, which was filed by Matthew Fernandes in July 2009, claimed that on March 18, 2009, FBI agents have asked him about area mosques and his Muslim faith. They also insinuated that he planned to perform or supported different terrorist acts which are connected to the “global jihad.”

He was then removed from the force and was prohibited or prevented access to city properties, stated the lawsuit.

According to reports, the former police officer also sued the Unified School District, alleging that it distributed a flier with his image in order to encourage people to call the authorities if ever he was seen along the campus.

Fernandes also agreed to drop the charges against the school in exchange of the $125,000 settlement pay.