Vanuatu police have tightened security at the court house and in Port Vila streets this morning while awaiting the judgement in a bribery case involving 15 members of parliament.
The supreme court is due to give its verdict this afternoon.
Members of the para-military Vanuatu Mobile Force have also been deployed in Port Vila amid concern at possible unrest.
Some schools have closed today and sent their students home for security reasons.
The court case centres on money given by a former opposition leader Moana Carcasses to the MPs.
Mr Carcasses has admitted to offering loans to MPs from his own funds, but denies they were bribes to lure support for changing government.
Police sources say officers have today been deployed amid rumours that there is a risk of a riot.
They also say police have assessed the situation in the past few days and assure people in Port Vila that they will be no problem.
