22 Jul 2014

Tahiti president released from custody

4:13 pm on 22 July 2014

Police in French Polynesia have released the president, Gaston Flosse, from custody after holding him all day for questioning in a corruption probe.

His office says he was released after ten hours and has not been charged.

It says he was questioned as a simple witness in a probe about the construction of Tahiti's new hospital.

His son, Reginald Flosse, and a company owner, Robert Bernut, have earlier been charged in connection with the case.

As he was being detained, he said the move was a deliberate humiliation and an act of revenge after a corruption conviction against him was recently thrown out by the court of appeal.

Tomorrow, France's highest court is due to rule on yet another appeal, which if unsuccessful could end his political career.