French Polynesia's assembly president, Jacqui Drollet, has appeared in court after two opposition women politicians alleged that he had maligned them publicly.
Last May, Tarita Sinjoux and Madeleine Bremond lodged a formal complaint after Mr Drollet criticised them in front of the media in terms which suggested they had prostituted themselves.
His comment came amid a row over the allocation of assembly office space, which prompted him to change office locks.
According to the Nouvelles de Tahiti, the court heard the case but deferred its ruling until January the 31st.
