The Vanuatu Supreme Court building in Port Vila. Photo: RNZI / Jamie Tahana
Vanuatu's Supreme Court has dismissed an attempt by 14 jailed former members of parliament to quash their convictions.
The 14 men, including a former prime minister, were jailed last year for taking bribes to cross the floor.
In September, 11 of them were given additional jailtime for conspiracy over the former speaker of parliament's decision to pardon himself and his colleagues while he was acting president last year.
The 14 men had sought to have the convictions overturned by claiming parliamentary immunity.
They told the court that they were attending a session of Parliament when they were prosecuted and this is prohibited under the constitution.
But the judge, James Geoghan, said the constitutional provision did not grant immunity from criminal prosecution, and threw out the challenge.
