Shot boss wins £160,000 payment

The boss of an overseas firm who was shot four times and seriously injured, and sacked by his employer on the same day, has won a £160,000 pay claim.

Ex-patriate Sean Daley, 31, from Bicester, was employed to run a struggling mill in central Asia and was paid irregularly, the High Court heard.

He was shot by unknown gunmen on 6 July 2006 in Kyrgyzstan and sacked later that day, the judges were told.

Camco Corporation of Wales was made to pay salary arrears by the High Court.

Buyers found

Mr Daley, formerly of Hunt Close, Bicester, sometimes had to borrow money or use his own funds to keep the woollen mill afloat due to a lack of operating funds, the court heard.

He was told to sell the mill and eventually found some buyers from Khazakstan in May 2005.

Lady Justice Smith said his salary was paid irregularly by Camco Corporation Ltd, a business and management consultancy firm based in Caerphilly, south Wales.

"Camco was plainly in breach of the terms of Mr Daley's contract of employment in that it was not honouring his remuneration package"

He had been attempting to recoup the pay arrears when he was seriously injured.

Mr Daley was shot while leaving his home in the Kyrgyzstan capital, Bishkek. His barrister Sam Neaman said police in Kyrgyzstan still did not know who was responsible for the attack.

A bullet was lodged in Mr Daley's liver and he was flown back to the UK for treatment. Doctors had to remove one kidney and part of his other kidney, Mr Neaman said.

While in hospital he received a letter from Camco, dated on the day of the attack, informing him that he had also been made redundant, which the high court judges said was "unfortunate."

Mr Daley took his claim to Oxford District Registry court in 2008 and Judge Charles Harris QC awarded him £161, 559 in back pay, £49,470 in interest, plus "reasonable contributions" to his pension fund.

Camco accused Mr Daley of fraud, said his evidence was far from "forthright or clear" and lodged an appeal, which was heard at the High Court.

Lady Justice Smith, sitting with Lady Justice Arden and Mr Justice Richards, upheld the original ruling and ordered the firm to pay his heavy legal costs, £40,000 of which he should receive immediately.

She said: "Camco was plainly in breach of the terms of Mr Daley's contract of employment in that it was not honouring his remuneration package."

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