Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Lawyer says Flosse detention may speed up French Polynesia’s OPT probe

Posted at 03:37 on 12 November, 2009 UTC

The lawyer acting for the French executive detained in Tahiti over the OPT affair says he hopes that the jailing of French Polynesia’s veteran politician, Gaston Flosse, will accelerate the investigation.

The executive, Hubert Haddad, has been in prison for six months amid suspicion that he paid kickbacks to Mr Flosse and his party to get public sector contracts.

Mr Flosse, who was detained earlier this week, is to be interrogated with Mr Haddad, which his lawyer hopes will clarify matters and lead to Mr Haddad’s release.

Mr Flosse’s lawyer now says he expects Mr Flosse to be freed next week.

Yesterday, Mr Haddad was interviewed simultaneously with the former OPT and Air Tahiti Nui boss, Geffry Salmon, who has also been held in the same jail for six months as part of the OPT probe.