The trial for Remengesau’s 19 counts of violation of code of ethics started Monday and was presided by Associate Justice Kathleen M. Salii.
Among the government witnesses that were called on Monday to testify on the case was Patrick Ramarii, a former inmate at the Division of Corrections.
Ramarii was one of the landowners who sold properties to Remengesau during his term.
Based on the testimony of Ramarii, he knew Remengesau back in 2000 when he was still a Vice President.
Ramarii agreed to sell a piece of his land to Remengesau for $41,000 and the money was paid in three payments.
Ramarii in his testimony to Special Prosecutor Michael Copeland said that Remengesau paid him an initial payment of $1,000 in check then the second payment, $20,000 cash was delivered to him by the First Lady Debbie Remengesau in jail a week later.
Ramarii said the third payment amounting to $20,000 was paid through a traveler’s check and he was not able to cash it or deposit it to his account because it was unsigned.
At the said trial, the prosecution alleged that Remengesau promised to help Ramarii get a 6-6 work release program if he sells his land to him.
When asked if he get a 6-6 work release program, Ramarii told Copeland that he did not get a work release program.
During the cross examination, Remengesau’s counsel Oldiais Ngiraikelau asked Ramarii if he approached someone who works at the office of the Vice President to sell his property and the witness answered “no.”
Ramarii also answered no when asked if he talked with anyone who work with the Vice President Office regarding the property.
Ngiraikelau asked Ramarii if where did the $20,000 cash was placed when it was delivered to him in jail and Ramarii told the defense counsel that the money was placed in a box.
Ramarii also said that there were other inmates around when he counted the $20,000 cash and that he went out of jail later to deposit the money to a bank.
He said he was escorted by a police officer when he went to the bank to deposit the money.
Same thing happened at the last payment; he said he was escorted by a police officer when he went to the bank to deposit the traveler’s check.
Remengesau was charged with 19 counts of violation of code of ethics for failing to disclose assets during his term as President of Palau.
