Returning to Vanuatu on Sunday, President Lonsdale said he was full of sorrow over what he called the "unlawful decision" to issue the pardon, Radio New Zealand said . After meetings with local politicians and the National Council of Chiefs, he declared that no-one in Vanuatu is above the law, and would make a decision on his next step within days. "I will clean the dirt from my backyard... We as a nation have to stop these crooked ways," ABC quoted him as saying . The convicted MPs were due to be sentenced at the end of this month, and faced prison sentences of up to 10 years for their part in the bribery scandal that amounted to 35m vat ($310,000; £200,000).