Jail term sought for Tahiti's Tefaarere

12:58 pm on 22 May 2015

The public prosecutor in French Polynesia has called for a suspended two-year prison sentence for a former top politician, Hiro Tefaarere, for an alleged attempt to misuse public funds.

Hiro Tefaarere

Hiro Tefaarere Photo: AFP

Mr Tefaarere is accused for having abused his position as chair of the board of the airport company by attributing money to a commercial contract without seeking the full board's consent.

He was jailed 20 years ago for being one of the instigators of the Tahiti riots that destroyed the airport.

In the last decade, he briefly served as a minister under the pro-independence leader, Oscar Temaru, and was also acting assembly president following the political turmoil of 2004.