The letter of termination was handed to Werner by Chief of Staff Isaac Soaladaob yesterday morning.
The president is off –island and will not be back until next week.
“Based on my careful review and certain legal advice, opinions and personal views that you have expressed to me as well as your legal performance regarding certain matters of great concern to the government of Palau which have far reaching legal and constitutional consequences, I have concluded that you do not have the full commitment to diligently, vigorously and properly defend and support the policies and interests of the government and the people of Palau whom you were retained to serve during my administration,” Toribiong’s letter to Werner stated.
Werner declined to comment on the matter.
Earlier a Supreme Court order issued a day before the deadline, temporarily stopping the Bureau of Immigration from collecting $25 fee under the new alien registration scheme and running after foreigners who failed to register.
Werner defended the case for the government.
Although the six-page order did not stop the bureau from accepting voluntary registrants, it was ordered to cease from accepting the $25 fee, levy fines and subject foreigners to civil and criminal penalties from failure to register.
The court ruled in favor of plaintiff Bernadette Carreon, on behalf of herself and foreigners in Palau that are required by the new regulation to pay $25.
The class action suit seeks to halt the collection of fees and to require the government to repay the fees already collected from the foreigners.
During oral arguments Shipper argued that a temporary halt is necessary because those that will not register will be subjected to a fine $5 a day and jail time.
The class action suit questions the legality of the alien registration scheme because it violates equal protection clause of the Constitution.
A hearing date will be scheduled for the motion for a permanent injunction and declare it null and void.
The new regulation requires foreigners to register every August. Sept 30 was supposed to be the last day of the registration
There are at least 6,000 foreigners in Palau.
Werner is also the Independent Counsel, handling the Pacific Savings Bank case and the director of the Financial Intelligence Unit. The president has relieved him of these posts too.
The termination was effective yesterday and he is given 60 days salary plus $2,000 for travel.
