Tahiti's Flosse won't appeal spy case conviction

6:49 pm on 1 March 2016

French Polynesia's disgraced president will not appeal against last week's conviction in the appeal court which gave him a suspended 18-month jail term for misuse of public funds over his invasion of privacy.

Gaston Flosse

Gaston Flosse Photo: RNZ

Gaston Flosse had earlier been convicted in the criminal court for abusing $US10 million in public funds by running the spy agency with its staff of 19 out of the presidency office.

He ran the service between 1997 and 2004 to keep a tab on rival politicians, journalists and others.

His lawyer now says Flosse will not try to overturn the sentence in France's highest court, meaning that he will be banned from holding public office for two years.

Four years ago, Flosse was convicted for obstructing the examination of the case and he was fined $US16000 for destroying all the agency's documents.

In 2014, Flosse was given a four-year suspended jail term, a $US170,000 fine and banned from public office for three years for corruption.

He has not ruled out running for office in 2018.

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