Appeal against former Tahiti minister's acquittal

12:06 pm on 18 January 2016

The prosecution in French Polynesia says it will appeal against the acquittal of the head of a public works agency, Bruno Marty, who risked a six-month jail sentence for misspending public funds.

Last week, Mr Marty, who is a former minister, was found not guilty of spending more than 20,000 US dollars for personal matters by using the agency's credit card.

The court found that the agency was not tasked a public service institution, but the prosecution disagrees, saying the territory has majority stake in the outfit.

Two years ago, Mr Marty was given the agency position by the then president, Gaston Flosse, after suddenly resigning as transport minister following a car crash.

He was found to have been almost five times over the legal alcohol limit while being in charge of road safety.

It also became public that he had three drink drive convictions and was supposed to have surrendered the licence months earlier.

He was given a suspended six month jail sentence.

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