Tahiti trial over Flosse's chinaware deferred

The criminal court in French Polynesia has deferred the trial of the disgraced former president, Gaston Flosse, and his partner, Pascale Haiti, over the alleged theft of chinaware from the presidential palace.

The trial was due to open today but was put off until August the 9th on request by the defence.

The two were accused of taking public property in December 2014 after $US70,000 worth of china and silverware from the presidential palace were found at their home.

Flosse, who had lost the presidency because of a corruption conviction three months earlier, said he had bought the items in question with his own money.

The pair risks a sentence of seven years in prison and a $US130,000 fine.

Flosse is banned from holding public office until 2019 although he challenged the decision, claiming he was eligible to stand again in 2018.

Attempts by the defendants to have the case thrown on technicalities were unsuccessful.