A FORMER soldier who was facing financial ruin over a £120,000 school fees bill has finally resolved his dispute with the Ministry of Defence.

Supporters of Afghan veteran Kia Tubuitamana, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, say the ex-corporal is now free to start rebuilding his life.

Kia was left struggling to cope after the MoD reversed its decision to pay his daughters' boarding school fees and began to claw the money back.

Officials said he was not entitled to the cash because his first wife volunteered for an MoD job overseas instead of being posted.

Daily Echo: Kia spent 18 years in the army, including two tours of Afganistan and two of IraqKia spent 18 years in the army, including two tours of Afganistan and two of Iraq (Image: Kia Tubuitamana)

Kia, 41, of Fair Oak, was shocked to be told he owed the ministry well in excess of £100,000.

Speaking earlier this year he said the MoD took money from his pay packet, plus £46,000 he should have received after being diagnosed with PTSD, and then told him to hand over a further £63,000.

READ MORE: Veteran in row with Ministry of Defence over £120k school fees bill

Now campaign group Citizenship4Soldiers, which took up his case, has announced that the dispute has been settled.

A spokesperson said: "Kia Tubuitamana was facing a massive bill from the MoD due to an admin error in his application for education support.

"To make matters worse he had his pension lump sum taken to repay some of the debt after being medically discharged due to PTSD, leaving him without a penny to his name.

"I am delighted to say we have resolved the issue to everyone’s satisfaction and no further debt is owed.

"The impact this has had on Kia and his family has been horrendous and to be able to bring the matter to a conclusion means he can now turn the page and move on with his life."

No information about the settlement has been disclosed. It is not known if all or merely part of the debt has been waived.

Daily Echo: Kia and his wife Lucy on their wedding dayKia and his wife Lucy on their wedding day (Image: Kia Tubuitamana)

Kia's second wife Lucy said: "After three years of fighting this case we are thrilled and relieved the matter has finally not only been addressed but resolved.

"We are so relieved it’s all over and we can finally get on with our lives without this hanging over us. 

"We would like to thank everyone for all the support. It's very much appreciated."

David McMullen, of Citizenship4Soldiers, said the MoD initially agreed to pay 85 per cent of Kia's daughters' school fees but later changed its mind.

The MoD said it never comments on individual cases.