Palau Trial Court declared defendants Kione Isechal as Iechadribukel and Naomi Mobel as Bechekeldil of Ngeribukel Clan of Ngerbeched, Koror, Palau. The Court order also states that they are strong members of Ngeribukel clan “and as such, have authority or power over the lands, traditional titles, and affairs of Ngeribukel Clan.”
Another long-running case of traditional title dispute concluded this past week with the court ruling in favor of defendants Kioni Isechal, Naomi Mobel, Karen Mobel, and Kuye Belelai.
The case was brought forward by Idesong Sumang, Katsuko Tewid, Marine Remoket, Joyce Ngotel and Sandra Pierantozzi.
Both contestants brought exhibitions that included family trees, records of contributions to the clan, testimonies and evidence to support their positions, tracing their lineages to strong “ochell” of the clan.
The Plaintiffs, Idesong Sumang, Katsuko Tewid, Marine Remoket, Joyce Ngotel and Sandra Pierantozzi, traced ancestry to two sisters Saroi and Sachebid and where they moved and how they came to Ngerbeched. The court said there is no reason to reject their family history.
In the case of the defendants, Kione Isechal as Iechadribukel and Naomi Mobel as Bechekeldil of Ngeribukel Clan of Ngerbeched, Koror, Palau, a previous case also on the titles of Ngeribukel clan was ruled on by the court. The case of Ted Aitaro and Masae Yoshiwo, the preceding case for titles of Ngeribukel clan, were determined by the court as strong members of the Ngeribukel Clan. The defendants trace their matrilineal line to the same woman Aitaro and Yoshiwo traced their lineage to.
The court stated that “in Palau, that a final judgment of a clan title can not be relitigated, that a prior decision by the Trial court regarding who held the chief title resolved the issue of who was the proper title bearer.”
The court further said Kione Isechal was the Iechadribukel because he had been appointed by the ourrot and approved by the council of chiefs of Ngerbeched and the Koror State Council of Chiefs.
The court reiterated that Kione Isechal is Iechadribukel and Naomi Mobel is the Bechekeldil and has the authority or power over lands and traditional titles and affairs of the Ngeribukel Clan..