Pacific

Niue MP may pursue police over "malicious prosecution"

16:54 pm on 12 June 2002

An opposition MP on Niue, Terry Coe, says he will look at pursuing a case against the police for malicious prosecution after the withdrawal of a criminal libel case.

It, and another libel case against publisher, Stafford Guest, were dropped after police failed to produce any evidence.

Mr Coe says he believes the charges were politically motivated and he has witnesses who will state that the public service commission and the cabinet of the day were telling the chief of police what to do.

Mr Coe says this pressured the police into laying charges against him without the evidence.

"If they believe they have enough evidence, well then yes, fair enough, take it to the court. But if they're being pressurized to do it, then thats totally wrong. If this is going to happen then you know, the country is in a very sorry state - that political pressure can be put on the police to file charges, against people without enough evidence."

Mr Coe says he'll look at pursuing the malicious prosecution later in the year after he faces a theft charge.