One of the three politicians convicted in French Polynesia for abusing public funds has decided to appeal against his suspended jail sentence and fine.
French Polynesia's court building Photo: RNZI
Clarenntz Vernaudon was convicted last week when he and a former president Gaston Tong Sang were found guilty of abusing public funds to pay for phantom jobs by signing contracts to seal a 2008 coalition deal with the Ai'a Api Party.
According to Radio Tahiti 1, Vernaudon is the only one of three to appeal to date.
Tong Sang, Vernaudon and Fernand Roomataaroa have also been sentenced to jointly pay $US80000 back to the public purse.
The prosecution wanted Tong Sang to be declared ineligible to hold office for a year, but the court rejected that and he remains an assembly member of the ruling coalition and the mayor of Bora Bora.