Police denied access to French Polynesia's former president

Last Updated: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:14:00 +1000

The French Senate has rejected a request from police in French Polynesia to temporarily lift the parliamentary immunity of Senator Gaston Flosse.

It's the second time investigators have asked for permission to interview the former president as part of a probe into the misuse of public funds from the territory's Office of Post and Telecommunications.

In July, their request was granted allowing police to detain and question Mr Flosse for 11 hours.

Five people have already been detained over the affair, including the former deputy Emile Vernaudon and Mr Flosse's personal secretary.

In a statement released following the decision, Mr Flosse welcomed the Senate's decision, but described the continued detention of others allegedly linked to the case as "unfair".