Tahiti

Another self-styled kingdom emerges in Tahiti

The group calling itself the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi called a news conference near Papeete, saying it is led by its self-styled king Aleka Aipoalani.

It claims to have worked on its new government for three years, it has its own flag and purports to have its own money.

Tahiti concerned about Pacific Games accommodation

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed in November between the Samoa Government and accommodation providers in Upolu and Savai'i.

But the majority of athletes will now base themselves at the Methodist Church of Samoa's Faleula compound for the July Games after officials were only able to convince 30 hotels to come on board, which will only cater for one quarter of the 4000 beds required.

The Vice President of Tahiti's Olympic Committee, Charles Villierme, said they have concerns the facilities will not enable athletes to perform to their best.

Five more charged over French Polynesia ice production

Last week, the two main suspects were charged and remanded after a raid on a house on Tahiti's peninsula where they had set up a lab to produce the banned drug.

The five were allegedly also involved in the operation by buying medicines at pharmacies to make methamphetamine.

They were reportedly given some of the drug in return.

The couple at the centre of the operation are in their mid-30s.

If convicted, they could face a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

 

     

Language glitch imperils Tahiti cocaine trial

Media reports say upon arrest last year the three men - two Dutchmen and a Pole - were not given advice on how to challenge the search of their yacht in their native languages.

The lawyers say failing to have done so nullifies the case.

However, according to Radio1 the prosecution claimed that customs staff could search any docked vessel and any challenge could only be filed within 72 hours.

A decision is expected in three weeks.

The three suspects claimed they didn't know about the cocaine on their yacht when they were caught in the Marquesas Islands.

Former Futsal Tahiti head arrested in meth sting

La Depeche reported that 19 people have been charged and nine of them have been placed in remand as part of the investigation.

Police carried out a raid on a Papeete hotel in mid-August and seized cash worth almost half a million US dollars as well as firearms.

Investigators say they had been working on the case since the beginning of the year.

La Depeche said in another methamphetamine case being investigated, 21 people have been charged and eight of them are under arrest.

     

Couple arrested in Tahiti for meth smuggling

Tahiti Nui TV said the woman had about 200 grams of the banned drug on her when she was detained at Tahiti airport after a flight from Los Angeles.

The man travelling with her had also been taken into custody.

The report said the couple planned to sell the drug, expecting to earn about $US200,000.

 

 

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Pacific Games Council lifts suspension on Tahiti

Athletes from the French territory will be free to participate at next year's Pacific Games in Samoa provided an agreement for the selection of its rugby and boxing athletes is honoured.

Tahiti was suspended by the Council's General Assembly in December due to "political interference".

It followed the French Polynesian Government's decision to boycott the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu because of a dispute over which boxers and rugby sevens athletes should represent Tahiti.

Huge tax fraud case opens in Tahiti court

The case revolves around the alleged abuse of a tax refund law which was meant to boost investment from France in its overseas territories.

13 people are due to appear in the criminal court in Papeete, accused of lodging false invoices to reclaim more than $US20 million from the state.

Among those charged is a former minister Clarenntz Vernaudon, who two months ago received a suspended jail sentence for abusing public funds.

Self-styled 'king' sentenced to a year in Tahiti prison

The Pakamotu group had been defying the French state for years by purporting to have its own government.

Last year, Athanase Teiri was convicted in the criminal court and given a nine-month jail term for circulating a fake currency and for intimidation.

On appeal, the sentence was increased by three months to a year.

He and his backers distributed the so-called patu as part of his claim that it would be replacing the French Pacific franc.

NZ-Samoan consortium to build Tahitian hotel

The French Polynesian government has chosen its bid for the construction of part of the Tahitian Village resort complex which is a scaled backed version of the original Mahana Beach project.

The consortium Kaitiaki Tagaloa includes Kaitiaki Property, Iwi International and Samoa's Grey Investment Group, which already owns and runs several high-end hotels in Tahiti, Mooera and Bora Bora.

The announcement comes a week before the election of a new territorial assembly, and the president Edouard Fritch said contracts would be signed by the government after the polls.