PAPEETE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse, Jan. 30, 2008) – All 15 remaining cabinet ministers in the government of French Polynesia President Oscar Temaru resigned en masse Wednesday in support of one minister who resigned earlier in the day after his court conviction Tuesday.
Gilles Tefaatau resigned Wednesday morning as minister of small and medium businesses and industry. A Papeete criminal court convicted him of a conflict of interest dating back to a period from August to December 2005.
The judge fined Tefaatau 500,000 French Pacific francs (US$6,329/€4,190), but rejected the prosecutor's recommendation that he be declared ineligible to hold public office for two years.
Tefaatau announced Wednesday he would appeal the court decision, saying he did not profit personally from the case, either directly or indirectly.
Temaru, surrounded by his ministers, held a press conference late Wednesday afternoon to announce his government's resignations, but said he intends...