Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Prosecutor seeks fine for French Polynesia politician

Updated at 4:58 pm on 4 February 2009

Prosecutors in French Polynesia have asked for a suspended one-year jail sentence for a veteran politician accused of misusing public funds on an election night party.

A court in Papeete has also heard a request that Gaston Flosse be declared ineligible for office for a year and be fined $US20,000.

Mr Flosse was the territory's president when he organised a massive celebration reception for his Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party at the presidential palace, assuming he would win the 2004 election.

However he suffered a shock defeat, then left the entertainment bill for the new government which refused to pay it.

The case was to be heard in November but Mr Flosse, who was re-elected as member of the French senate, was in Paris at the time and his lawyer won a deferral until this week.

A verdict in the case is expected in two weeks.

Copyright © 2009, Radio New Zealand