A group of academics has accused the president of the University of French Polynesia, Louise Peltzer, of plagiarism.
In a letter signed by 26 researchers and teachers, she is accused of having published a study in 2000 which was in essence taken from a book written by the Italian author, Umberto Eco.
One of the signatories, Jean-Michel Charpentier, says Mrs Peltzer tried to publish some of his work under her own name, which prompted him to alert other researchers who then spotted the similarities between her texts and Mr Eco's writings.
Mrs Peltzer has dismissed the letter, saying it's an attempt to denigrate her because they oppose university reforms.
She has been at the helm of the university for six years after serving for six years as French Polynesia's minister of culture and higher learning.
