Cook Islands MP and lawyer, Norman George, has taken legal action against the Cook Islands News newspaper and its cartoonist, claiming he was libelled in a cartoon.
According to Mr George, the allegedly offending cartoon teamed him with notorious fraudsters such as bogus cancer healer Milan Brych and Nigerian scammers.
He claims Kata, the newspaper's cartoonist, has been making a living out of him for 15 years.
"I'm always in his cartoons every other day, so there is no questioning about it, even a half blind person can tell it's me. So I am suing the Cook Islands News and Kata the cartoonist for one point two million [NZ] dollars. I am also accusing them of criminal libel."
Norman George.
The editor of the Cook Islands News, John Woods, says they dispute the allegations made by Mr George.
An initial hearing was held today but Mr George says it's been adjourned and will be heard by a visiting New Zealand judge.
