Former Australian pharmaceutical chief awarded government compensation
Updated
The former head of Australian drug company Pan Pharmaceutical has been awarded $US48.7 million in damages by the Federal Government.
The settlement relates to the Therapeutic Goods Administration's recall of the travel sickness drug, Travacalm, in 2003.
Jim Selim's lawyer, Andrew Tharpe, says the government has accepted that the recall led to the collapse of its manufacturer Pan Pharmaceuticals.
"I'm personally not aware of any other case against for abuse of public office and paid such a large amount to a private individual," he said.
"What it means is the government has thrown in the towel and accepted responsibility for what happened to Pan."
