The appeal court in Paris is re-examining a corruption conviction of French Polynesia's veteran politician, Gaston Flosse, which could see him disqualified from public office for a year.
The conviction to a suspended one-year jail sentence stems from him misusing public funds following the 2004 general election night when he arranged for a large reception for his party at the presidential palace.
However, after his surprise election defeat, he wanted the new government to pay the bill but it refused, so once he had regained power, he settled the account with public funds.
The retrial in Paris comes after the constitutional court last June voided a clause that automatically renders corruption convicts ineligible for five years from holding office.
In his first appeal court case three years ago, Flosse lost which prompted him to take it to the highest court while challenging the constitutionality of the sentence.
