Investigators in French Polynesia have questioned a New Caledonian businessman who was flown to Tahiti after his arrest in Noumea over a corruption probe in Tahiti.
Kim Than Trong and his partner are now free but under judicial control while his immediate superior, Bill Ravel, is in the Nuutania prison where a total of three suspects are being held as part of the probe into allegedly corrupt practices.
Central to the affairs are cash payments over several years by Mr Ravel to a top unionist, Cyril Legayec, to contain strikes at his Tahiti business.
The Nouvelles de Tahiti says the sum in questions are disputed as a go-between is suspected to have taken some of the 165'000 US dollars.
The paper also says a list has been found in the computer of Mr Ravel's secretary which is believed to detail recipients of Mr Ravel's payments.
It says among them are politicians and a senior official of the French high commission.
