A New Caledonian criminal court has fined the head of the state-owned OPT telecommunications company, Jean-Yves Ollivaud, for abuse of public funds.
Radio New Caledonia says his fine is in excess of 100,000 US dollars and he has been barred from holding a job within the public sector for a year.
He was found guilty of making false and excessive expense claims for flights on Air France for himself and his family between 2003 and 2008.
The prosecution demanded he be given a suspended prison term.
Ollivaud maintains his innocence and his lawyer says the conviction will be appealed.
