English to German Law/Patents Law (general)

From an email:
"However, if people within the company such as yourself and/or compliance investigate, you will know that you have a legal obligation to act on any accusation setting the clock running, you must also of course hear the accused in the case as well."

Context: employee is accused of stealing goods in a company and reselling them outside. Supervisor has asked co-workers to keep an eye on him to investigate. As this is an internal (unprofessional) investigation there are rules to follow according to labour law. i.e. there is a timeframe and the accused has to be heard, too.