The president of French Polynesia Edouard Fritch has decided to appeal last month's conviction for abusing public funds for which he was fined $US50,000.
He is appealing along with his predecessor Gaston Flosse who had also been given a suspended two-year jail sentence and been banned from holding a public office.
Eduoard Fritch and Gaston Flosse during the election campaign in 2013 Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel
The two had been convicted for their actions as current and former mayors of the town of Pirae from the late 1980s onward.
They had arranged for the town administration to pay for the water supply to the upmarket Erima neighbourhood, where Flosse lived.
The appeal means that their sentences won't be enacted, allowing Flosse to run in next year's municipal election.
Because of corruption convictions, Flosse has been barred from public office since 2014 but the last ban will expire in two weeks.
Last month, the criminal court had also ordered the two to pay reparations to the Pirae council, which is run by Mr Fritch.
The two politicians fell out after Flosse lost power, and in February Flosse was fined $US20,000 for making defamatory statements about Mr Fritch.
