10 Feb 2005

Palau convicts man for illegally employing dancers

2:57 pm on 10 February 2005

The Supreme Court in Palau has convicted a man of illegally employing 14 Saipan cultural dancers.

Sung Ki Kim had pleaded guilty to illegally employing non-resident workers, and was ordered to pay for the dancers' repatriation and their back wages of 15,000 US dollars.

The Saipan Tribune newspaper reports investigations showed the cultural dance group members from Saipan entered Palau on tourist visas and were made to work despite having no work permits.

The group's manager said the workers were made to clean their own apartment.

Police are seeking Kim Dae Woo, who is wanted in connection with the employment, but he fled Palau before the investigation began.