21 Mar 2016

Jailed Vanuatu MPs plead not guilty on pardon charges

6:18 pm on 21 March 2016

Reports from Vanuatu say eleven jailed politicians have all pleaded not guilty to charges of defeating the course of justice.

The convicted former MP and former Speaker of Parliament Marcellino Pipite.

The convicted former MP and former Speaker of Parliament Marcellino Pipite. Photo: Hilaire Bule

The Daily Post says the pleas were made in the Supreme Court on Friday before Justice David Chetwynd.

The 11 MPs, who are among 14 MPs serving prison terms for bribery and corruption, are facing an additional four charges after the then acting head of state, Marcellino Pipite, issued himself and ten other MPs' pardons.

The pardons were later revoked by the head of state, President Baldwin Lonsdale.

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