The National reports that Potape and nine members of the Komo-Magarima joint district planning and budget priorities committee passed a resolution to increase their sitting allowances in 2010.

Potape was the chairman at the time and was paid K60,000, while each committee member received K30,000.

Deputy chief justice Gibbs Salika said Potape took advantage of his public office and should take responsibility for his actions, and that repaying the embezzled monies should not be seen as a way of dodging jail time.

According to Radio New Zealand two other MPs have been sentenced for corruption - Paul Tiensten, who is serving a nine-year sentence in Bomana prison, and Havila Kavo, who is out on bail pending his appeal before the Supreme Court.