The French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru, has welcomed the swift police action in dealing with the assailants of an Irish tourist.
Three men were arrested and immediately tried for beating and robbing a young Irishman in Papeete.
Apart from getting a three-year jail sentence, the three have been jointly fined 6,000 US dollars.
Mr Temaru says the violence was unacceptable.
He has received the tourist, Patrick Dennis, for a joint lunch.
