Pacific / French Polynesia

Tahiti's Temaru in custody over 2009 spending probe

11:37 am on 30 November 2018

French Polynesia's pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru is being held by police and being questioned over the alleged abuse of public funds.

Oscar Temaru Photo: RNZI

He and two others, Heinui Lecaill and Vito Maamaatuaiahutapu, are alleged to have misspent money of the association running a local radio station Radio Tefana.

The accusations stem from a public accounts audit of 2009.

No charges have been laid yet.

Last month, Mr Temaru lost his assembly seat over campaign account irregularities.