Pacific

French Polynesian minister Vernaudon given suspended jail sentence for corruption

11:09 am on 27 January 2006

A French Polynesian government minister, Emile Vernaudon, has been given a suspended one-year jail sentence for corruption but is allowed to keep all his posts.

The appeal court upheld his conviction for having diverted public resources as the mayor of the town of Mahina to the benefit of associates, including his girl-friend.

The court ordered him to pay a US$30,000 fine.

His lawyer says despite the guilty verdict Vernaudon has not been deemed ineligible for political office and can keep his job as telecommunications minister and Mahina mayor.

Vernaudon is the head of the Aia Api Party which is part of the ruling coalition led by Oscar Temaru.