Tax fraud case

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.