Former French Polynesia mayor sentenced for corruption

10:12 am on 26 January 2019

The former mayor of Fakarava in French Polynesia has been given a ten-month suspended prison sentence for abusing public funds.

Fakarava

Fakarava Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The appeal court has also declared Howard Vairaaroa, who is now retired, to be ineligible to hold office for two years.

Last year, the criminal court convicted him for misspending public money on things including personal air travel and questionable projects.

Between 2004 and 2008, he was a member of the territorial assembly for the Tahoeraa Huiraatira, led by Gaston Flosse.

Fakarava was main retreat of Flosse, who was also convicted of corruption.

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