2 May 2011

Former radio station staff appear in Flosse case in French Polynesia

7:40 am on 2 May 2011

Former staff members of French Polynesia's Radio Maohi have appeared in court as the judge continues to hear evidence from 86 people involved in the alleged abuse of public funds for phantom jobs.

The case, which is about to enter its third week, centres on the former presidency run by Gaston Flosse who is alleged to have run an illicit network from the mid 1990s to advance his Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party's cause.

Those questioned said they thought there was nothing wrong to work out of the town hall in Pirae, where Mr Flosse also was the mayor, and to get additional pay from the presidency, with some conceding that they understood they worked for a party and their boss's success.

Their testimony comes after leading unionists were questioned about being on the pay-roll of both their unions and Mr Flosse's presidency.

Last week, Mr Flosse told the court that there was nothing untoward in any of the contracts issued for his officials because they were all approved by successive French high commissioners.