Australia banker caught viewing erotic photos keeps job

David Kiely, background seated, garnered global internet support

An Australian banker caught viewing erotic images in the background of a live TV interview will keep his job, his employer, Macquarie Bank, has said.

David Kiely became an internet sensation when the Channel 7 interview, showing him looking at images of model Miranda Kerr, was posted on YouTube.

A massive internet campaign was launched to save his job and Ms Kerr also pleaded his case.

Macquarie said it had completed an inquiry and that Mr Kiely would stay.

In a statement it said: "He will remain an employee of Macquarie. Macquarie and the employee apologise for any offence that may have been caused."

Macquarie did not specify any other measures against Mr Kiely, only that "action had been taken" after talks with him.

'Wrong place, wrong time'

Mr Kiely's colleague, Martin Lakos, was discussing interest rates live on Channel 7 on Tuesday when Mr Kiely opened an e-mail containing pictures of Ms Kerr.

I am told there is a petition to save his job, and of course I would sign it Miranda Kerr

Mr Kiely turned around part-way through, apparently in surprise, fuelling speculation that he was the victim of a practical joke.

There are reports that Mr Kiely, who works for Macquarie Private Wealth in Sydney, was deliberately sent the e-mail and opened it unwittingly, before being told to look round.

A global campaign on Mr Kiely's behalf got under way after the YouTube posting, which has had more than 1.3 million hits.

Financial website Here is the City News set up a Save Dave page and more than a dozen Facebook pages also supported him.

"Whether set up or not, Kiely was really only guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There but for the grace of God," the web campaign petition said.

Ms Kerr, a 26-year-old Victoria's Secret model engaged to Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom, gave her backing to Mr Kiely.

"I am told there is a petition to save his job, and of course I would sign it," she said.

Ms Kerr has had a surge of interest in her.

The number of searches for her name on Google soared by 100% after the appearance of the clip on YouTube.