By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

Former Airai State Governor Tmewang Rengulbai was fined a total of over $5,000 for alleged ethic violations and misappropriation of funds.
Associate Justice Kathleen Salii in her seven-page decision and orders on cross motion for summary judgment said that a ruling of a total penalty of $5,542.66.
Earlier the government filed a complaint against Rengulbai alleging five counts of ethics violation.
In the complaint , four of the counts alleged that the defendant misappropriated government funds and in the final count it alleged that Rengulbai used his official position to secure a personal advantage for himself.
Court records showed that on March 3, 2005, Rengulbai issued Airai State Public Lands Authority check no. 1131 drawn on the Bank of Hawaii in the amount of $1,050 payable to the Carnival Restaurant.
Records showed that the bill for five people included charges pf $400 for 20 drinks for five female employees at $20 each, $93 for beer and $300 for cognac.
The description of the payment was aid to be for negotiation dinner with lawyers for Iberong and Esel clan to proceed the golf course project.
The court said that the dinner meeting with the clan representatives served " governmental purpose but the expenses spent for alcoholic beverages cannot be construed, " as being done to promote the public health, safety, morals, welfare, security or prosperity of the citizens of the Republic."
On this matter, the court entered a fine of $793 against Rengulbai.
Court records showed that on Sept. 2002, Palau National Communication Corporation officials, including Rengulbai who was on the board of directors traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to attend the 2002 National Telecom Cooperative Association Conference.
During that trip former senator Harry Fritz also traveled to Las Vegas and received $1,980 for lodging and food $2,000 of representation funds for the republic.
Court records showed that when the Palau delegation checked out of their hotel on Sept. 27,2002, Fritz did not have enough money to pay his bill and Rengulbai used his credit card instead issued to him by PNCC in the amount of $2,042.21.
Fritz then later repaid PNCC for the debt.
The court however ruled that it does not matter whether Fritz repaid his debts but that the republic is not " a bank from which money can be taken and later replaced without consequence."
The court therefore entered a judgment of $ 2,042.21 against Rengulbai.
The judgment said that on June or July 2000, Rengulbai has said to have spend $2,782.45 of Airai State government funds for clothing, travel, registration, jewelry and other items for the participation of Miss Airai Dove Iyar in the Miss Palau pageant.
The judgment said that Rengulbai paid $1,200 for Iyar and companions to travel to Guam to purchase clothing and accessories and he also paid $1,332.45 on clothing, accessories and transportation in Palau and $250 for pageant registration fee.
The court ruled that paying the $250 for registration is reasonable, paying the $1,200 to finance the trip for Iyar and companions however was not in the best interest of the country.
Although Rengulbai argued that the trip was necessary because the court could not find the clothing she needed in Palau "does not mean it was a proper expenditure of public funds."
Court documents said that on July 7, Rengulbai authorized the payment of $175 of Airai State tickets to Miss Palau Competition.
The tickets were used by Rengulbai and his wife, two chaperones, Iyar’s parents and the General Manager of PNCC.
The court also made a ruling in the amount of $175 for the government money spent on the tickets.
The court however ruled that Rengulbai did not used his official position to influence the Airai State Legislature decision to create and pass the resolution ratifying disbursements made out of government fund established to develop a golf course