Tahiti's Flosse due in court over chinaware

11:01 am on 5 May 2016
Gaston Flosse

Gaston Flosse Photo: RNZ

A trial date of May the 31st has been set for French Polynesia's disgraced former president, Gaston Flosse, and his partner, Pascale Haiti, over the alleged theft of chinaware from the presidential palace.

The two are due in the criminal court on charges of taking public property in December 2014 after $US70,000 worth of china and silverware from the presidential palace were found at their home.

Flosse, who had lost the presidency because of a corruption conviction three months earlier, said he had bought the items in question with his own money.

The pair risks a sentence of seven years in prison and a $US130,000 fine.

Flosse is banned from holding public office until 2019 although he has challenged the decision, claiming he is eligible to stand again in 2018.

Attempts by the defendants to have the case thrown on technicalities have been unsuccessful.

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