A convicted Vanuatu MP, Marcellino Pipite, has used Saturday's absence of the president to pardon himself and more than a dozen other convicts.
The convicted former MP and former Speaker of Parliament Marcellino Pipite. Photo: Hilaire Bule
Mr Pipite, who is also the speaker of parliament, issued a presidential pardon in his capacity as acting head of state - a role he assumed while the president, Baldwin Lonsdale, was abroad.
On Friday, the Supreme Court had convicted Mr Pipite and 13 other MPs of corruption for accepting bribes by the deputy prime minister, Moana Carcasses, who at the time of the payments was the opposition leader.
Mr Carcasses admitted to offering loans to MPs from his own funds, but denied they were bribes to lure support for changing the government.
The court, however, found that the payments were corruptly given and accepted by MPs to influence their roles as public officials.
Sentencing was due next week and Mr Carcasses had said he would appeal his conviction.
One MP, the finance minister Willie Jimmy, had pleaded guilty.