Sentenced for Escape

The Minister of Justice did not only apply the recommendations he had made to the different Prosecutors but he intended to increase the sentence passed on the Tahitians, and sought to have them convicted for escaping custody.

On 27 July, 1974, the Supreme Court of Appeal considered that the Higher Court of Appeal in Papeete did not have jurisdiction of Appeal in Papeete did not have jurisdiction over acts of escape for reasons 'of public safety' and sent the case to the Marseilles Tribunal, one understands again because of the political nature of the affair. The Tribunal of Marseilles sentenced Robert Cahn to ten months imprisonment and Felix Teheriura to six months imprisonment for escaping custody.

Application was made to the Appeal Court in Aix-en-Provence who in its judgement on the appeal refused to rule on the amnesty to Maitres Henri Leclerc and Jean Dissler, lawyers for Felix Teheriura. This decision is now being submitted to the Supreme Court of Appeal.