Aimeliik, Palau – May 9, 2024 Aimeliik State Governor Browny Simer removed Clarence Sriderio Rengulbai from the Aimeliik State Public Land Authority (AIMSPLA) board and reported him to the Office of Special Prosecutor for potential misconduct in office, according to letters obtained by Island Times.
Rengulbai, the former AIMSPLA chairman, admitted to receiving and keeping for personal use an $87,846 lease payment from Palau Golf Course Inc. (PGI) for fiscal year 2023, according to letters dated May 8, 2024, addressed to Rengulbai and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Governor Simer expressed concern in a letter to Sriderio Rengulbai about a meeting with AIMSPLA on or around April 25, 2024. During the meeting, Rengulbai revealed that he had received a check from PGI made out to him personally for lease payments owed to the Aimeliik State government. The governor noted his distress that Rengulbai had instructed PGI to issue the check in his name and deposited it into his personal account.
Sriderio Rengulbai, in a statement to Island Times on May 8, claimed the money belonged to him. He asserted he had spoken with and received approval for the payment from a former PGI representative, Mr. Lin. Sriderio said Mr. Allen Seid owed him money, which PGI supposedly owed Seid. He maintained he was simply collecting what was owed to him, with Mr. Lin’s consent.
Rengulbai received the annual lease payment from PGI in December 2023, instructed them to add his name to the check, and deposited it into his personal account. The copy of the check showed that it was made to, Clarence S. Rengulbai Aimeliik State Public Land Authority.
Governor Simer, in his response, demanded Rengulbai return the funds to the Aimeliik State treasury immediately. He also emphasized that the incident would be referred to the Office of Special Prosecutor or the Attorney General, stating, “such actions flagrantly violate several state and national laws.”
Rengulbai’s History of Allegations
This is not the first time Sriderio Rengulbai has faced accusations of misconduct. In August 2023, the Aimeliik State Legislature called for an investigation into allegations that Rengulbai had leased public land and pocketed the rental payment. The legislature provided copies of a lease contract and a cashier’s check payment of approximately $127,000 to support the claim. A report was filed with the Office of Special Prosecutor, but no updates on the investigation have been made public.
Governor’s Action
Governor Simer appointed Rengulbai to the AIMSPLA Board of Directors on May 4, 2021. Rengulbai had previously served on the board under former Governor Demei Obak. According to ASPLA regulation 9-14, board members continue serving after their term expires until a replacement is appointed. Governor Simer’s May 8th letter to Rengulbai states his removal from the AIMSPLA board is “effective immediately.”
The Aimeliik State Legislature Speaker, Lucio Obakerbau, had previously requested Governor Simer remove Rengulbai from the board and investigate the 2023 allegations. At that time, Governor Simer referred the decision to the AIMSPLA board for them to address.