19 Nov 2012

Temaru to comment on Tahiti's Ravel/Legayic probe

12:33 pm on 19 November 2012

The French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru, says he will give his view tonight on the investigation which has led to searches of ministries, his party's office and the home of his finance minister.

The searches came amid an investigation into alleged corruption centring on a New Caledonian businessman, Bill Ravel, and a top French Polynesian unionist, Cyril Legayec, who are both in jail as part of the probe.

Mr Temaru says his party's role is to assist the judiciary find the truth.

Two weeks ago, Mr Temaru said in reference to the probe that he had absolutely no role, adding he never accepted a single franc to change his politics.

Another politician, Jean-Christophe Bouissou, called a news conference to say he received no hidden money from Mr Ravel, describing a transfer in question as an accounted and declared contributution to his radio station.