19 Apr 2016

Vanuatu court upholds ban on former MPs

9:11 am on 19 April 2016
Moana Carcasses on his way to jail

Moana Carcasses on his way to jail Photo: RNZI / Hilaire Bule

The Vanuatu Supreme Court has upheld the decision to ban 14 convicted MPs from holding public office for 10 years.

Two former MPs launched an appeal against this sentence last year, arguing that they were no longer leaders when the conviction was made in December 2014.

Willie Jimmy and Silas Yatan said the decision should have been made in October when they were first charged with bribery and corruption.

However the court found their argument was "misconcieved" and ruled against it on Friday.

Fourteen MPs, including the former deputy Prime Minister Moana Carcasses, were convicted for giving or recieving corrupt payments in 2014.