Philip Scheer condemns ‘political score-settling’

Tahiti, June 18, 2024 – Philip Schyle, former mayor of Arue, tried on Tuesday for illegal gain and favoritism in two different cases, denounced political score-settling at the bar, explaining that it was very painful for him to explain his “integrity”. After deliberations, the court acquitted him in the first case and asked for a fine of 500,000 francs in the second. The decision is due on June 25.

Philip Schyle, former mayor of the commune of Arue, appeared on Tuesday at the Criminal Court to hear two cases filed following a complaint filed by the commune’s current tāvana, Teura Iriti. In the first case, Philip Schyle and three other defendants, including the former Director of Municipal Services (DGS), are accused of cutting a contract related to the renovation of the town hall, totaling 35 million francs. In the second case, Philip Schyle, as well as former elected officials, this time are suspected of illegally obtaining benefits and providing municipal subsidies to the Royal Racial Association of Tetiaroa, in which several municipal elected officials are present.

On Tuesday morning, the Criminal Court began investigating the first case related to allegations of favoritism. As the president recalled, Philippe Scheer and his three colleagues were accused of “dividing” the contract for the renovation of the “centenary building” of the Town Hall, worth 35 million francs, into four “different markets”. All in order to show amounts below the regulatory threshold (20 million francs), which, once exceeded, automatically leads to a tender.

The political game

When questioned in the first case, Philippe Schier explained that “personally” he did not master all the public procurement procedures, but that he was surrounded by people who knew the subject at the time. While the president of the court was surprised that a man who had been mayor for many years did not know the “basic rules” of public procurement, Arue’s former tavannah told him that he had “trust” in his colleagues. “No one should be ignorant of the law, but I admit that I do not master all the subtleties of this area.” During the first hearing, the former mayor also said that he was “convinced” that the events were related to “political settling of scores.” “Even if this is part of a political game, I feel it is a shame that we are settling scores by going after this little beast.”

After hearing the other three defendants indicted in the first case, the prosecutor requested a fine of 500,000 francs for Philippe Schier and his former DGS, and 300,000 francs for the other two defendants. After the morning hearing, the court released the four persons involved.

‘Extremely close’ relationship

Thus, the “second” trial of Philip Schill began that afternoon. In this case of illegal acquisition of benefits, he and four other defendants, including former elected municipal officials, are accused of having granted two subsidies – $6 million in June 2016 and $5 million in July 2018 – to the Royal Tetiaroa Racing Association, whose purpose is to promote the custom of va’a by organizing races between Tetiaroa and Tahiti. The subsidies were given despite the fact that some of the defendants were members of the association’s offices. The president of the court described the relationship between the municipality and the association as “extremely close”.

Philippe Schier recalled that his desire at the time was to “pay homage” to his predecessor, Boris Leontief, who “had always wanted to organize this race”, and then assured that he had been informed that there were elected officials from the municipality at the association’s office when the complaint was made. “I didn’t know, if I knew I would have told them not to go. It might seem strange, but I didn’t know.” It was ultimately requested that he be fined 500,000 francs. The decision will be made on June 25.