The Election Commission during a board meeting on Tuesday ruled that Uehara is qualified to run for public office as Hamlet Legislature candidate for Ngerbeched.
The Board agreed that Uehara has not violated any laws when he filed his candidacy to run for Legislature saying although he was convicted of felony crimes, his conviction has not been affirmed by the higher court.
Uehara’s conviction and sentence is still on appeal.
Uehara is running for the Ninth Koror State Legislature in Ngerbeched along with other candidates Bisayang “Ush” Luii and Felix Francisco in this coming November 10 Koror State election.
Uehara was petitioned by ten residents last week. The residents sought for the disqualification of the former speaker to run for Legislature in Ngerbeched saying he is not elegible to run because he was convicted of perjury and misconduct in public office.
On Monday, 44 supporters of Uehara filed their opposition to the petition and stated that Uehara remains and continues to be a registered voter in Koror State.
The supporters asked the Election Commission to dismiss the petition saying the grounds for the said petition and protest are legally wrong and misguided.
The supporters stated in their opposition that as of today, Uehara remains and continues to be a registered voter in Koror State.
The supporters stated that Uehara satisfies all the requirements of 23 PNCA §107 (a) that states “a citizen of the Republic 18 years of age or older may register and vote in any national, state, municipal or other election or referendum provided he has satisfied the minimum periods of residency established by law and is not in jail serving all the requirements of 23 PNCA § 107 (a).”
The supporters stated that Uehara has satisfies the residency requirement, not mentally incompetent and is not in jail serving a sentence for a felony case.
Uehara was found guilty of perjury and misconduct in public office on January and was sentence on March to six years of imprisonment and a fine of $10,000.
The sentence was suspended except for 12 months.
