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New Zealand millionaire businessman Ballu Khan has withdrawn his case against Fiji's Police Commissioner, in which he claimed police detained him illegally.
Mr Khan backed down on his allegations after his release from a Suva hospital where he was treated for injuries suffered during his arrest in November, the FijiLive news website reported.
Mr Khan was charged this week with three counts of conspiracy to murder Fiji's interim Prime Minister and two Cabinet ministers, and is now on bail.
His lawyer, Semi Leweniqila, told a court that Mr Khan did not wish to pursue the illegal-detention claim any further.
He said Mr Khan made the decision after his discharge from hospital.
In response, Fiji Solicitor-General Christopher Pryde made a claim seeking F$20,000 ($16,630) in costs from Mr Khan and his lawyers.
Mr Pryde said the grounds of the claim included the short notice served by the respondents on withdrawal.
He repeated police claims that Mr Khan was not detained by them but was in the care of medical authorities over the past two months.
Mr Pryde said that while in hospital, Mr Khan had the liberty at all times to have visitors and was even allowed to use a laptop and had access to a mobile phone.
"The amount of F$20,000 we think is reasonable in the circumstances," he said outside court.
Justice Jocelyn Scutt has given the state until January 24 to file the compensation claim and the respondents until February 7 to reply. The matter will be heard on February 18.
Mr Khan's lawyers had filed a case regarding his detention by police on Tuesday, at the Suva Private Hospital.
Later in the afternoon, Mr Khan marched out of hospital and headed for his Suva home, with his lawyers refusing to allow police to question him.
Police charged Mr Khan on Tuesday night and he was then granted bail.
- NZPA
