Paris court quashes Flosse conviction in defamation case

11:50 am on 21 December 2020

France's highest court has quashed a ruling made in French Polynesia, which had fined a former president Gaston Flosse.

Eduoard Fritch and Gaston Flosse during the election campaign in 2013

Eduoard Fritch and Gaston Flosse during the election campaign in 2013 Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel

Last year, the appeal court convicted Flosse for defaming president Edouard Fritch by alleging that he had engaged in vote buying.

However, the Paris court found that the appeal court ruling in Tahiti was deficient and sent it back for a revision.

In September, the Paris court also quashed the conviction of the assembly leader of the opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira party, Geffry Salmon, who had also been taken to court by Mr Fritch for alleged defamation.