Masayos and Giramur appeared for arraignment on August 4 and denied the charges.
Masayos was represented by Oldiais Ngirkelau while Giramur appeared with counsel Siegfried Nakamura.Their co-defendant Haruo Esang was also arraigned and was represented by counsel William Ridpath.They were all ordered to appear in court on September 18 at 1:30 pm for status conference hearing.Masayos and Giramur are now under suspension without pay.The three defendants are facing charges for fixing the visas of three Chinese nationals who entered Palau as visitors.Masayos was charged with three counts of people smuggling, three counts of aiding and abetting falsifying travel and or other documents in aid of people smuggling, three counts of aiding and abetting forgery, three counts of conspiracy, three counts of bribery and three counts of misconduct in public office.Giramur was charged with three counts of people smuggling, three counts of falsifying travel and or other documents in aid of people smuggling, three counts of forgery, three counts of conspiracy, three counts of bribery and three counts of misconduct in public office.Esang was charged with three counts of bribery, three counts of conspiracy, three counts of people smuggling and three counts of aiding and abetting falsifying travel documents in aid of people smuggling.A court document stated that Masayos and Giramur accepted money from the tourists to fix their documents so they can have Provisional visas.The document stated that Masayos instructed Giramur to back date the Provisional visa of the three Chinese women.The document stated that Masayos gave Giramur a total of $450 to back date the papers.The process will allow the Chinese women to work under Deluxe Restaurant owned by businessman Haruo Esang without them having to leave Palau.
