A top New Caledonian politician Philippe Gomes has been in court charged with exerting undue influence, with the prosecution seeking a six-month suspended prison sentence.
Philippe Gomes Photo: AFP
The charge relates to him being the board chair of an energy company in Noumea while serving in both the French National Assembly and New Caledonia's Congress.
The combination of these roles was deemed unlawful by France's constitutional court in 2018, which prompted Gomes to relinquish his position at New Caledonia Energy.
The defence argued that the company never received any loans or subsidies while Gomes was in charge.
The court ruling will be made public on 13 May.
New Caledonia Energy was formed in 2016 to build a $US700 million electricity plant with New Caledonian and French money to feed Noumea's industrial area.
Gomes, who is also a former president of New Caledonia, said at the time that he prided himself on having stood up for the public good to secure the project.
His involvement was, however, challenged by an anti-corruption group.
When he was charged three years ago, he dismissed the matter as a ridiculous affair that would end up in the dungeons of New Caledonia's judicial history.
Ten years ago, the appeal court quashed a suspended jail sentence given to Gomes in a corruption-related case, in which he had been accused of arranging a public contract to the benefit of his private business.
