29 Dec 2009

Former Palau President given a hefty fine for ethics violations

2:45 pm on 29 December 2009

In Palau, the former President and now Senator, Tommy Remengesau Jr. has been fined nearly 157 thousand US dollars for his failure to comply with the financial disclosure requirements of the code of ethics.

The Marianas Variety reports Associate Justice Kathleen Salii as saying the fines take into account Mr Remengesau's assets listed in the pre-sentence investigation report.

Justice Salii says it is inconceivable for a man of the defendant's education and sophistication to misunderstand the self-evident instructions on the disclosure form.

She says a fine equivalent to the value of the properties he failed to disclose should deter other leaders from concealing assets.