The mayor of Tumara'a in French Polynesia Cyril Tetuanui has appeared in court for alleged abuse of a tendering process to build gymnasiums.
Cyril Tetuanui, mayor of Tumaraa in French Polynesia Photo: AFP
Tahiti-infos says Mr Tetuanui was tried after being questioned over cash payments he allegedly received from a businessman who is now jailed for drugs offences.
The prosecution wanted to give him an 18-month suspended jail sentence and ban him from holding office for two years.
A ruling is expected on December 13th.
Four years ago, Cyril Tetuanui was given a suspended jail sentence and declared ineligible for public office for a year by France's highest court.
However, he didn't quit office because the court document was never sent through and the sentence lapsed.
He and his wife, who is also a former government minister under Gaston Flosse, had been found guilty of using municipal employees in 2002 to work on their private residence.
Shortly before his wife became a senator last year, a complaint was lodged with the police claiming he was on the pay roll as her assistant in her office at the assembly for 30 hours a week.
She said she had adhered to assembly rules and her husband had always accompanied her on her travels around the territory.