The Bermuda Hospitals Board has stepped up its controls over staff conduct after a manager lost his job amid allegations he received "kickbacks" from the handing out of contracts.

The Facilities Department manager was removed from his post following an investigation into what BHB describes as a "non-compliance to BHB policy".

ZBM reported the employee had received kickbacks, but a BHB spokeswoman would not confirm this, telling The Royal Gazette: "The manager is no longer at BHB due to non-compliance to BHB policy, not due to the allegations made in the media."

Police and the Auditor General are both now investigating.

The spokeswoman said in a statement: "Bermuda Hospitals Board has strict policies and procedures relating to employee activities and when we became aware of a potential non-compliance, we immediately initiated an internal investigation. As a result of the internal investigation, we can confirm that a manager in the Facilities Department at Bermuda Hospitals Board no longer works for BHB.

"No other employees are implicated and stricter controls have already been introduced. The Board has been swift and decisive in this matter as it expects the highest standards of conduct for its entire staff.

"Additionally, as is usual in a matter of this nature, the normal regulatory authorities have been contacted, these being the Auditor General and Police. As these investigations are ongoing, we are unable to comment further."

Further details on the stricter controls were not available, while the spokeswoman would not indicate whether the manager was sacked or resigned.