The respective committee chairs, Sen. Joel Toribiong and Del. Marhence Madrangchar in a letter to Copeland said there were numerous allegations against him ranging from overstepping the authority, professional ethics and competence.
“Given the seriousness of these allegations, it is imperative that you respond to them as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. Failure to do so to the satisfaction of our respective Committees will result in further oversight and investigation of your actions as Special Prosecutor,” the committees chair said.
The committees questioned the competence of Copeland in handling the court cases of Health Minister Stevenson Kuartei, Ombudsman Moses Uludong and Assistance Attorney General Ronald Ledgerwood.
Kuartei and Ledgerwood were both charged with DUI, prosecution of the cases were handled by Copeland but were dismissed.
Uludong’s forgery case was also dismissed.
The committees also noted that Copeland also undermined the country’s overall prosecution of the collapsed Pacific Savings Bank case that resulted in the acquittal of one of the former bank’s officials.
Copeland served as Independent Counsel at that time.
“We would therefore like you to explain what exactly happened during that prosecution that led to this outcome.” The letter said.
The Committee also questioned Copeland’s overstepping his authority on a number of different legal matters throughout Palau.
One of them, it cited is that Copeland has allegedly tried to obstruct the transfer of the Independent Counsel responsibilities to the new independent counsel.
The committees also questioned Copeland’s action relating to the employees at Ashiibi Karaoke Bar.
The lawmakers said Copeland overstepped his bounds by getting involve in the case which is supposed to be out of his jurisdiction.
Earlier retired Ombudsman Uludong threw the same allegations against Copeland.
