Prosecutors in French Polynesia have dropped charges against the president of the territorial assembly, Marcel Tuihani, laid in connection with the alleged theft of china by the disgraced former president, Gaston Flosse.
Radio stations in Tahiti report that the prosecutors upheld their case against Flosse and his partner, Pascale Haiti, and want them to be tried in the criminal court.
Last year, the pair were charged with taking precious china and silverware from the presidential palace after Flosse lost office.
President of the French Polynesian territorial assembly, Marcel Tuihani. Photo: AFP
While much of the crockery was found at Flosse's private home, some of it was allegedly taken to the assembly office, which Mr Tuihani made available to Flosse after his demise for corruption.
Flosse said he used his own money to pay for the china, said to be worth about 70,000 US dollars.
The pair risk a sentence of seven years in prison and a 130,000 US dollar fine.