Pacific

French Polynesia MP Vernaudon poised to be released

14:34 pm on 25 November 2011

A jailed French Polynesian assembly member, Clarenntz Vernaudon, is about to be freed after the bail sum was lowered.

Mr Vernaudon has been in Tahiti's Nuutania prison since June suspected of fraud.

Earlier this month, his lawyer said Mr Vernaudon was allowed to be free but couldn't afford the bail of 200,000 US dollars.

Tahitipresse reports that the sum has now been lowered to 56,000 US dollars.

Mr Vernaudon, who is the mayor of Taiarapu-West, was a member of the ruling Union For Democracy but while in jail he quit the assembly grouping to register as an independent.