Palau Legal News; Asterio Takasi to Receive Police Complaints; New Drug Prosecution; Corp Registrar
Takasi takes on responsibility for receiving police complaints
by Leilani Reklai
January 20, 2023
Asterio Takasi, Special Assistant to the Vice President and Minister of Justice, has been assigned to take on the responsibility of receiving and compiling reports of police complaints. And Shelly Remengesau was appointed the Public Relations Officer (PIO) of the Ministry of Justice, according to a memorandum issued by the Vice President and Minister of Justice Uduch Sengebau-Senior on January 10.
Complaints and allegations of misconduct by police officers will now be received and reported by Mr. Takasi, according to the memo from Vice President Sengebau-Senior. The recent incident involving an adult male inmate allegedly assaulting a minor female inmate had raised allegations of misconduct on the part of the police.
Two high-rank police officers at the Department of Corrections have been suspended while the investigation continues into the alleged incident.
“In the absence of a Police Practices Committee, and until we hire a permanent Director for the Office of Professional Standards, it is crucial for the Ministry of Justice to maintain transparency and professional agency standards, especially in dealing with public allegations against law enforcement officers of the Ministry of Justice,” explained Vice President and Minister of Justice Uduch Sengebau-Senior of the reason to appoint Asterio Takasi to take on the responsibility of compiling and reporting complaints of alleged police misconduct.
The Office of Professional Standards was the new bureau created by Executive Order No. 462, reorganizing the Ministry of Justice. The new office was to develop professional standards for the MOJ and to collect and address allegations of misconduct of law enforcement officers.
Until the position of Director of this bureau is hired, Mr. Takasi will be doing the work of compiling complaints reports. (By: L.N. Reklai)
https://islandtimes.org/takasi-takes-on-responsibility-for-receiving-police-complaints/
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AG charges six more people with drug trafficking
by Island Times
January 20, 2023
The Office of Attorney General filed charges of drug possession and drug trafficking against six individuals in December of 2022. In December 2022, Vice President Uduch Sengebau-Senior confirmed that they saw a rise in use of drugs in communities and that the Ministry of Justice was working to address the problems. She revealed that about 15 cases had been referred to the Office of Attorney General for prosecution.
As of December 29, a total of 8 cases have been filed, with earlier reported in this publication.
Of the six cases, two drug trafficking and possession involved marijuana. Brady Sambal and Wendy Arurang were both charged with Trafficking of Controlled Substances and Possession of Controlled Substances when a raid of their home in Peleliu led to the discovery of over 100 marijuana plants and items normally used to package and sell marijuana.
Trafficking marijuana is a felony offense with a jail sentence of not more than eight years and a fine of less than $5,000. Possession of one pound of marijuana is also a felony charge carrying a jail sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $15,000.
Four others were charged with possession and trafficking of methamphetamine, otherwise known as “ice.”
Warren Richard was charged with two counts of Trafficking a Controlled Substance and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Two others were charged together with Trafficking and Possession of a Controlled Substance, methamphetamine. Takisang Iyar was charged with two counts of Trafficking and two counts of Possession, while Tarakiei Gino Asanuma was charged with one count of Trafficking and one count of Possession.
The last person charged with Trafficking and Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2022 was Yoshi Aki Okabe. He was charged with one count of Trafficking “ice” and one count of Possession of “ice.”
Attorney General Ernestine Rengiil reported that the Office of the Attorney General has few attorneys at the moment and is still recruiting more attorneys. This, she said, is why the filing of cases takes a little longer.
Drug cases dropped down during the border closure but the re-opening of airports and the increase in incoming cargo from all entry points have also resulted in an increase of drugs into the country.
Trafficking of methamphetamine is a felony offense carrying NOT less than 25 years and not more than 50 years and a fine of not less than $50,000 and not more than one million ($1,000,000).
https://islandtimes.org/ag-charges-six-more-people-with-drug-trafficking/
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FIC designated as Registrar of Corporations
by Island Times
January 20, 2023
Palau’s Financial Institution Commission (FIC) is designated as the Registrar of Corporations, according to a recent Executive Order signed by President Surangel Whipps Jr.
According to Executive Order No. 477., FIC has the “technical capacity and institutional knowledge to be designated as the Registrar Corporation that will administer the Corporate Registry promulgate regulations and adopt policies effectuating the purposes and procedures of the Act.”
Palau is modernizing and updating its Corporations’ laws of the Republic. In 2021, Palau Public Law 10-11, or the Corporations Registry law was signed which will regulate corporations in Palau, both domestic and international as well as for-profit and not-for-profit corporations.
In his signing statement, Whipps said the 143-page law upgraded the current corporations’ law and “replaces the law with a modernized version necessary to ensure good governance and lawful business practices.
An earlier press statement from the ADB said the new law will modernize and simplify business start-up and operation requirements by eliminating unnecessary and outdated formalities, making it faster and cost-effective to register and manage businesses in the future.
The EO signed on January 12, 2023, will turn the responsibility of the registrar to FIC. Palau’s FIC is the financial regulatory and supervisory system body for the country. It is also responsible for the licensing, supervision, and regulation of financial institutions.
https://islandtimes.org/fic-designated-as-registrar-of-corporations/
by Leilani Reklai
January 20, 2023
Asterio Takasi, Special Assistant to the Vice President and Minister of Justice, has been assigned to take on the responsibility of receiving and compiling reports of police complaints. And Shelly Remengesau was appointed the Public Relations Officer (PIO) of the Ministry of Justice, according to a memorandum issued by the Vice President and Minister of Justice Uduch Sengebau-Senior on January 10.
Complaints and allegations of misconduct by police officers will now be received and reported by Mr. Takasi, according to the memo from Vice President Sengebau-Senior. The recent incident involving an adult male inmate allegedly assaulting a minor female inmate had raised allegations of misconduct on the part of the police.
Two high-rank police officers at the Department of Corrections have been suspended while the investigation continues into the alleged incident.
“In the absence of a Police Practices Committee, and until we hire a permanent Director for the Office of Professional Standards, it is crucial for the Ministry of Justice to maintain transparency and professional agency standards, especially in dealing with public allegations against law enforcement officers of the Ministry of Justice,” explained Vice President and Minister of Justice Uduch Sengebau-Senior of the reason to appoint Asterio Takasi to take on the responsibility of compiling and reporting complaints of alleged police misconduct.
The Office of Professional Standards was the new bureau created by Executive Order No. 462, reorganizing the Ministry of Justice. The new office was to develop professional standards for the MOJ and to collect and address allegations of misconduct of law enforcement officers.
Until the position of Director of this bureau is hired, Mr. Takasi will be doing the work of compiling complaints reports. (By: L.N. Reklai)
https://islandtimes.org/takasi-takes-on-responsibility-for-receiving-police-complaints/
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AG charges six more people with drug trafficking
by Island Times
January 20, 2023
The Office of Attorney General filed charges of drug possession and drug trafficking against six individuals in December of 2022. In December 2022, Vice President Uduch Sengebau-Senior confirmed that they saw a rise in use of drugs in communities and that the Ministry of Justice was working to address the problems. She revealed that about 15 cases had been referred to the Office of Attorney General for prosecution.
As of December 29, a total of 8 cases have been filed, with earlier reported in this publication.
Of the six cases, two drug trafficking and possession involved marijuana. Brady Sambal and Wendy Arurang were both charged with Trafficking of Controlled Substances and Possession of Controlled Substances when a raid of their home in Peleliu led to the discovery of over 100 marijuana plants and items normally used to package and sell marijuana.
Trafficking marijuana is a felony offense with a jail sentence of not more than eight years and a fine of less than $5,000. Possession of one pound of marijuana is also a felony charge carrying a jail sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $15,000.
Four others were charged with possession and trafficking of methamphetamine, otherwise known as “ice.”
Warren Richard was charged with two counts of Trafficking a Controlled Substance and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Two others were charged together with Trafficking and Possession of a Controlled Substance, methamphetamine. Takisang Iyar was charged with two counts of Trafficking and two counts of Possession, while Tarakiei Gino Asanuma was charged with one count of Trafficking and one count of Possession.
The last person charged with Trafficking and Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2022 was Yoshi Aki Okabe. He was charged with one count of Trafficking “ice” and one count of Possession of “ice.”
Attorney General Ernestine Rengiil reported that the Office of the Attorney General has few attorneys at the moment and is still recruiting more attorneys. This, she said, is why the filing of cases takes a little longer.
Drug cases dropped down during the border closure but the re-opening of airports and the increase in incoming cargo from all entry points have also resulted in an increase of drugs into the country.
Trafficking of methamphetamine is a felony offense carrying NOT less than 25 years and not more than 50 years and a fine of not less than $50,000 and not more than one million ($1,000,000).
https://islandtimes.org/ag-charges-six-more-people-with-drug-trafficking/
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FIC designated as Registrar of Corporations
by Island Times
January 20, 2023
Palau’s Financial Institution Commission (FIC) is designated as the Registrar of Corporations, according to a recent Executive Order signed by President Surangel Whipps Jr.
According to Executive Order No. 477., FIC has the “technical capacity and institutional knowledge to be designated as the Registrar Corporation that will administer the Corporate Registry promulgate regulations and adopt policies effectuating the purposes and procedures of the Act.”
Palau is modernizing and updating its Corporations’ laws of the Republic. In 2021, Palau Public Law 10-11, or the Corporations Registry law was signed which will regulate corporations in Palau, both domestic and international as well as for-profit and not-for-profit corporations.
In his signing statement, Whipps said the 143-page law upgraded the current corporations’ law and “replaces the law with a modernized version necessary to ensure good governance and lawful business practices.
An earlier press statement from the ADB said the new law will modernize and simplify business start-up and operation requirements by eliminating unnecessary and outdated formalities, making it faster and cost-effective to register and manage businesses in the future.
The EO signed on January 12, 2023, will turn the responsibility of the registrar to FIC. Palau’s FIC is the financial regulatory and supervisory system body for the country. It is also responsible for the licensing, supervision, and regulation of financial institutions.
https://islandtimes.org/fic-designated-as-registrar-of-corporations/