The court of appeal in French Polynesia has upheld a decision by the criminal court that the former president Gaston Tong Sang was not defamed.
He had lodged a complaint in January last year after the then President Oscar Temaru criticised a motion of no confidence, saying he didn't want to pass power to a bunch of crooks.
The criminal court had found that the comment was part of a political exchange and not defamatory.
Tahitipresse reports that on appeal, the verdict has been upheld.