A key accused in French Polynesia's trial of alleged corrupt affairs of the publicly owned OPT telecommunications company has been taken to hospital.
Hubert Haddad, who is a French advertising executive accused of having paid kickbacks to get contracts, appeared to have suffered a heart problem while being questioned in the Tahiti court.
Tahiti media reports say Mr Haddad, who is known to have heart problems, has been taken to a Papeete hospital for observation.
This comes as the trial of the 15 suspects has entered its second week.
The former ruling Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party of Gaston Flosse is alleged to have received nearly two million US dollars in kickbacks from Mr Haddad to help him get OPT contracts.
However, Flosse says he applied no pressure on the OPT leadership.
Mr Haddad has admitted to giving money to a former OPT executive, Jeffry Salmon, saying he helped him because he was depressed and his daughter needed a new car.
He rejected claims of corruption, saying that it goes against his religion.
