French Polynesia's public prosecutor has rejected claims that he is part of a French plot to quash the pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru.
Oscar Temaru Photo: RNZI
The Tavini Huiraatira party said Paris wanted to politically assassinate him in retribution for taking French presidents to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.
In October, Mr Temaru lost his assembly seat over campaign account irregularities in this year's election.
Last week, Mr Temaru was detained for 12 hours for questioning over the possible misuse of public funds in supporting local station Radio Tefana, based on a 2009 audit report.
The prosecutor Herve Leroy told a news conference that his activity is determined by the calendar which demands that pending matters be cleared.
The French High Commissioner Rene Bidal issued a statement regretting the kind of accusations made by the Tavini.
He said there was no plot and the era of the full powers of a Charles de Gaulle was over.
In his time, Tahiti's pro-independence leader Pouvanaa a Oopa was jailed and exiled, but this year his conviction was quashed.