Desert island dream faces legal awakening

TARAWA – A Frenchman’s dream of living on a deserted Pacific island have been shattered.

Kiribati police have arrested the Frenchman for allegedly living on one of the country’s uninhabited islands in the eastern group without a permit.

Lyderic Morlier, who is 59, was removed from Millennium Island where he has allegedly been living since November.

Local media say his boat was abandoned on the island because police could not bring it with them to Tarawa.

According to the Office of the President, the man will be charged with violating the country’s sovereignty.

The foreign ministry has been in contact with the French embassy in Fiji on the matter.