Police have been called in by a council chief executive to investigate an alleged e-mail smear.
Shetlands Island Council chief executive, David Clark, has filed a complaint with police after a malicious e-mail was circulated to councillors.
Trouble began for Mr Clark less than four months after he started as the new chief executive at the council, and a row erupted over the decision to make the assistant chief executive redundant.
The council confirmed last month that Mr Clark would take holiday while a five-member councillors' panel investigated claims made against him by a councillor. Its preliminary investigation has already been completed and COSLA has also been brought in to advise the council.
The police were also called to investigate the councillor's complaint, but their investigation has now been dropped.
In a statement, the council's convener, Sandy Cluness, said: ‘Mr Clark's primary concern continues to be the reputation of the Shetland community. I am grateful for the professional and dignified manner in which Mr Clark continues to conduct himself during this process.'
