Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong on December 2 dismissed without prejudice the informations against Koichi Wong, John Wong and Irene Francisco, who were all charged with cheating, forgery, misconduct in public office, conspiracy and money laundering for obtaining a loan from the Pension Plan for PSB’s liquidity problems.
The court granted the motion of Independent Counsel Lewis K. Harley who moved for the dismissal of the charges after the defendants agreed to cooperate with the ongoing criminal investigation concerning the closing of PSB.
Harley filed his motions to dismiss on December 1.
His affidavit in support of unopposed motion to dismiss states that dismissal of the information against defendants is in good faith and for the purpose of the fair administration of justice and is not intended to harass the defendants.
The Court on November 28 also set the trial dates for defendants Margo LLecholch and Presley Etibek.
The Court granted the motions of Harley for continuance and set Llecholch’s trial for December 8 at 9 am in courtroom 101 in Koror.
The trial for Etibek is set for December 22 at 9 am in courtroom 101 in Koror.
Harley in his affidavit in support of motion for continuance states that the parties have been working diligently towards a favorable resolution in the matter and require additional time for completion of not less than 21 days.
Harley said continuance was sought not for purposes of delay but so that justice may be done.
Llecholch’s trial was originally set for November 24 while Etibek was set for December 1.
The five defendants were charged along with Mack Timothy Taunton, Leo Ben Teriong, Mario Gulibert, Tadao Ngotel, Hideo Termeteet, Emory Mesubed, Deborah Rengiil, EVence Imetengel, Elbuchel Sadang, Wilbert Kamerang and Naomi Ueki.
The information states that the defendants on September 12, 2006, obtain money from Palau Civil Service Pension Plan “to support the bank’s liquidity problems by false pretenses and with the intent to defraud the CSPP, its Retirees and Contributors.”
