French Polynesian mayor has sentences quashed

1:52 pm on 6 December 2018

France's highest court has quashed two sentences given to a high-profile French Polynesian mayor Cyril Tetuanui.

Cyril Tetuanui, mayor of Tumaraa in French Polynesia

Cyril Tetuanui Photo: AFP

Last year, he was declared ineligible to hold public office for two years after the appeal court found him guilty of the inappropriate use of his office for business dealings.

In a second case judged at the same time, he was given a suspended eight-month prison sentence for favouritism.

However, he appealed to Paris and succeeded in getting the convictions overturned.

Cyril Tetuanui, who is the mayor of Tumara'a on the island of Raiatea, is also the president of the organisation promoting French Polynesia's local councils.

Five years ago, he was declared ineligible for public office for a year, but the sentence lapsed because for a year the relevant French court document wasn't sent from the court in Papeete to the French High Commission in Papeete to make it official.

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