The backlash I faced when I exposed my bosses’ fraudulent scheme was enormous. I was escorted out of the office like a criminal and my bosses turned the tables on me by making up trumped-up charges that I had to defend. They tried to
reputation, hired expensive lawyers to humiliate and harass me, and wore me down with false accusations and legal fees.

And it really wore me down. I stopped eating and sleeping and became obsessed with my case. I was a shadow of myself, both physically and mentally. My bosses knew exactly how to scare me and hit me where it hurt the most.

They didn’t stop there and followed me around my home. Instead of sending emails, they sent motorcycle couriers who delivered letters and documents at all hours of the day and night. One even found me with my children at the playground. The message of intimidation was blatant: We know where you live and we know your daily routine.

Within a matter of months, I had lost my job, my health, and my self-esteem. My mind was in tatters and my marriage was hanging by a thread. I had also racked up huge legal fees, which meant that if I lost my case, I would lose my home.

Within a few months, I was on the verge of losing everything I owned simply because I refused to participate in an illegal transaction orchestrated by my bosses.

These are the topics I deal with in my book Bay of Thieveswhich is about two women who face similar choices: go along with the corruption of their boss Rob, or take the riskier route and do the right thing. The novel follows the women as they are drawn deeper into corruption, and explores how far they are willing to go for money before someone gets killed.

The novel explores how easy it is to get drawn into corruption and how difficult it is to break free from it. It also shows how isolated you feel when you speak your mind while everyone else around you is up to their necks in it.

The polarization of public opinion about whistleblowers is evident in the case of Julian Assange, who was released last month after a 12-year battle against numerous serious charges. On the one hand, Assange is seen as a champion of free speech and the public’s right to know, while on the other he is demonized as a traitor who deserves prison time and, for some, the death penalty.

Other whistleblowers are also experiencing this polarization of attitudes. Whistleblowing costs a lot of money, but combined with the psychological impact, it is life-changing.

Although whistleblowers have created so much value for society, most never recover. Many live to regret their decision. Almost all of them had their careers ended and their lives ruined simply because they acted with integrity to protect us all.

Megan Davis is a former lawyer turned author and a staff writer at Spotlight on Corruption, an anti-corruption nongovernmental organization..

Bay of Thieves by Megan Davis is available now (Zaffre, £18.99). You can Buy it from The Big Issue shop at bookshop.org, which supports The Big Issue and independent bookshops.

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