PAPEETE, French Polynesia (November 29, 1999 - PINA Nius Online)---French Polynesia's President Gaston Flosse, who was found guilty last week of corruption by a Paris tribunal, has announced that he will not resign.
Last Wednesday, a court in Paris found Flosse guilty of "passive corruption." He was sentenced to a two-year suspended jail term and fined 100,000 French Francs (about US$ 20,000). He also was made ineligible to run for political office again for one year.
The case relates to funding for Flosse's political party, the Tahoeraa Huiraatira, provided by a local Chinese businessman, Julien Li Lem, who had obtained a license to operate a gambling establishment in Flosse's town of Pirae.
Flosse, in addition to serving as French Polynesia’s President, also is Mayor of Pirae.
Li Lem, in return for the favor, funded Flosse's party in the amount of approximately US$ 500,000.
"I will not resign and I will lead my party to another victory in the...