Division of Correction Chief Julio Ringang in a phone interview on Wednesday said that Toribiong Sakaziro tendered his resignation a week after the incident happened.
Ringang said Douglas Tkel is still working as a Corrections Officer at the Division of Correction but he will be facing a disciplinary action once the Director of the Bureau of Public Safety is back from an off-island trip.
Ringang said no disciplinary action has been taken against Tkel because Director Norvert Yano is still of island.
“No suspension yet or action has been taken against him because the Director (Bureau of Public Safety) is still off island but I know as soon as the Director comes back a disciplinary action will be taken against him,” Ringang said over the phone on Wednesday.
Sakaziro and Douglas Tkel were both charged with misconduct in public office and escape for the escape of inmate Suzuki Temael in August.
The officers were on duty when Temael escaped from jail between August 15 and August 16, 2009.
They were charged for allegedly failing to do their duties when they fell asleep while on duty.
Ringang said that Sakaziro stated in his resignation letter that “he would resign so that he can move on with his life.”
Sakaziro had been with the Division of Corrections for four years.
Sakaziro was formerly assigned at the Division of Fish and Wildlife and later at the Division of Corrections.
Tkel has been with the Division of Corrections since February. He used to work as a Security officer for former President Remengesau.
Tkel and Sakaziro were already arraigned where they both entered a not guilty plea to their charges.
According to the document filed in court the Correction Officers failed to do their jobs and slept while on duty.
The affidavit of probable cause filed in court stated that Tkel and Sakaziro being a law enforcement officers stationed at the jail facility failed to ensure that all cell door were locked.
The document further stated that Tkel and Sakaziro while on duty failed to do head counts and slept on duty.
The affidavit stated that inmate Suzuki Temael escaped through an unlocked cell door and walked through the jail out to the front door.
While Temael was in the community, he got drunk and burglarized the Happy Fish Market and attacked a security guard with a stick.
The document stated that Temael returned to the jail later and provided alcohol to the other inmates.
Temael who was convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon is currently serving a sentence for attacking a Japanese tourist last year. He has been in jail for two years now.
