Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Vanuatu Ambassador to Russia pulled into Phocea court case

Posted at 18:26 on 16 September, 2012 UTC

Vanuatu’s roving ambassador to Russia Titam Goiset has been summoned to court in relation to the fraud and forgery allegations against Pascal Ahn Quan Saken, the owner of the super yacht Phocea.

Madame Goiset is expected to appear again on September 20 for a preliminary inquiry.

She will appear at the same time with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Carlot and the Minister of the Education, Marcelino Pepite, as well as the skipper of the Phocea, Richard Malaise, Mr Saken and other six suspects.

Mr Carlot and Mr Pepite are charged with illegally boarding the Phocea before it had official clearance by customs, immigration and quarantine.

Mr Malaise and Mr Saken are reportedly facing charges of forging Vanuatu government documents purported for Mr Carlot to appoint Mr Saken as a Vanuatu diplomatic representative.

Mr Saken left Vanuatu before police raided the yacht more than 6 weeks ago.