Pacific / Vanuatu

Vanuatu bribery case back in court Wednesday

15:09 pm on 1 September 2015

Fifteen Vanuatu MPs are expected in court again on Wednesday to enter pleas on charges of bribery.

The MPs are alleged to have received bribes a year ago from the then opposition leader, Moana Carcasses, who is now deputy prime minister.

It is alleged that $US319,000 were involved.

Vanuatu parliament. Photo: RNZ / Walter Zweifel

Mr Carcasses was allegedly trying to procure the MPs support before a planned vote of no confidence to remove the then prime minister Jo Natuman.

Our correspondent in Vanuatu says sources say the money involved may have come from a businessman in Hong Kong.

Another three MPs, who had been facing charges, are now prosecution witnesses.

Last week Justice Mary Sey ruled the MPs also had a case to answer under the Vanuatu Leadership Code.