Vanuatu's former finance minister, Willie Jimmy, says he is planning to appeal against a Supreme Court decision banning him from holding public office for 10 years.
Fifteen Vanuatu politicians, former members of the government, were convicted on corruption and bribery charges in October, and on Monday were banned from holding public office under the provisions of the Leadership Code.
Fourteen of the former politicians are in jail with just Jimmy given a suspended sentence, which had allowed him to continue as finance minister.
But on Monday Justice David Chetwynd ruled all 15 could not hold public office for 10 years and that their entitlements are withdrawn.
Jimmy believes that because the 15 had been convicted under the penal code, applying the Leadership Code is unconstitutional.
"You cannot punish a person on the same offence on two occasions. What was reported to us yesterday was a double punishment. And we think it is an anti-constitutional action by the court."