The president of French Polynesia's territorial assembly, Edouard Fritch, has been charged with abuse of public funds.
The charges relate to him having arranged that the town administration of Pirae pay for the water supply to the Erima neighbourhood, where several top politicians live, including his father-in-law and president, Gaston Flosse.
According to local media, the charges were lodged following findings in a 2011 auditor's report.
Mr Fritch was the mayor of Pirae for eight years until 2008.
He is also a member of the French National Assembly.