27 Aug 2013

Temaru to remind Forum about Tahiti corruption

4:51 am on 27 August 2013

French Polynesia's pro-independence opposition politician, Oscar Temaru, says Pacific leaders need to know how corrupt the territory's leaders are.

Mr Temaru says although he is not invited, he will go to next week's Pacific Islands Forum in the Marshall Islands.

Earlier this year, the current president, Gaston Flosse was given two lengthy jail sentences for corruption, but none of the convictions is final as his lawyers have lodged appeals in both Papeete and Paris.

Mr Temaru says the Forum leaders should be aware of who is among them when they discuss problems of corruption, embezzlement and bribery.

"They have to know that the president of this country is the most corrupted elected person in the French parliament, and in the current government three of them have been in jail."

Oscar Temaru says he will travel to Majuro via Hawaii while Mr Flosse is reported to be flown on a New Zealand government plane from Auckland.