23 Nov 2010

Confidential Niue deal settles Fleming dismissal case

3:48 pm on 23 November 2010

A legal suit brought against the Niue government by a former public servant claiming unjust dismissal has been settled out of court.

Mike Fleming lost his job nearly two years ago after he was blamed by the Niue premier, Toke Talagi, for contributing to the country's financial strife by stockpiling aviation fuel.

The fuel was brought into Niue in 2008 to cover extra flights during the Pacific Islands Forum summit but much of it remained unsold at the end of the meeting.

Mike Fleming had said he'd nothing to do with the fuel purchase and wanted compensation for his dismissal.

The case went to trial on Niue last week in front of Chief Justice Patrick Savage but after one day was withdrawn with the parties negotiating a confidential settlement.