Charges dropped against Flosse in hospital contract case

1:37 pm on 29 April 2015

Charges have been dropped against French Polynesia's former president, Gaston Flosse, over the alleged misuse of power in the way he awarded a hospital contract a decade ago.

Flosse had been accused of giving the contract to build the Taaone hospital without calling tenders to a company whose owner then sold a stake in a hotel to Flosse's son at a low price.

The website Tahiti-infos reports that the charges were dropped after his lawyer turned to the Court of Appeal.

It says Flosse is now considered a witness in the awarding of the US$55 million contract.

Flosse lost office last year after being giving a suspended jail sentence for corruption.

Taaone Hospital in Papeete, French Polynesia. The contract to build the hospital has been the subject of a corruption investigation involving former president Gaston Flosse.

Taaone Hospital, Papeete Photo: AFP