26 Jan 2007

Vanuatu prosecutors to seek maximum penalty against Australian conman

10:46 am on 26 January 2007

Prosecutors in Vanuatu say they will push for a jail term for the Australian conman Peter Foster when he appears in court again next week on an immigration charge.

Mr Foster appeared briefly in the Port Vila Magistrates Court yesterday where one of the charges against him - entering Vanuatu without a valid passport - was dropped.

In return, Mr Foster's lawyer says he will plead guilty on Monday to one remaining charge, relating to not having a proper visa and being an illegal immigrant in Vanuatu.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of nearly two thousand US dollars or 12 months' jail.

The state prosecutor says authorities would push for the maximum penalty, and seek to have Mr Foster locked up for a year.