Vanuatu's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Carlot, has defended the businessman whose super yacht, Phocea, has been at the centre of controversy for the past two months.
Mr Carlot says Pascal Anh Quan Saken has helped him out a lot financially and he says the media is deliberately painting a poor image of him ahead of the election.
Mr Carlot and another Minister, Marcellino Pepite, are expected to appear in court later this week on charges of boarding Phocea before the official clearance from Customs.
Mr An Quan Saken is also due to face the court on a forgery charge.
Mr Carlot says Mr An Quan Saken's appointment by the Government as Vanuatu's honorary consul to Vietnam is still awaiting the approval of the Vietnamese Government.
