By Colin C. Cortbus

One of the strangest cases to come before the judiciary in Palau in recent years was this week decisively dismissed by a judge. Amelia Evenge, who had been criminally charged over allegedly taking $20 worth of Kebui leaves from a property on Babelthuap Island, left the court as a free woman.

Evenge, a middle-aged woman, had been charged with theft in the 4th degree (PNC Title 17, Chapter 26 §2605) and criminal property damage in the 4th degree (PNC Title 17, Chapter 25, §2504). A filing submitted to the court had claimed that the “suspect was seen …. taking Kebui leaves… worth around $20.00”, and causing damage to a plant in the process.

These allegations, however, it seems, were not sufficiently true and strong to proceed to trial. A judge at the Court of Common Pleas in Koror dismissed the charges at a hearing early on Wednesday morning, noting that the dismissal was “with prejudice”. ‘With prejudice’ is a technical legal term that usually means the case is considered adjudicated and the charges cannot be brought before the court again. It is quintessentially equivalent to an acquittal after a trial, except that a dismissal with prejudice normally occurs before a case goes to trial. Amelia Evenge is thus innocent and not convicted of the charges. Evenge was represented during the proceedings by public defender Dan Mizinov, who normally handles mostly cases involving felony charges or criminal appeals, but who took this case on as well.

Readers will be pleased to learn that Evenge was not deprived of the taste of betel-nut for all too long by all the legal ongoings.

After the very brief hearing, a friend awaited Evenge outside of the courtroom, where he had patiently sat on a bench. He held in his hands a peculiar little plastic case, of the type commonly used to transport tools and other implements of trade. But alas, it contained no such thing. Much rather, it was filled to the brim with fresh betel-nuts.  Together, the two jubilantly walked off into a gloriously sunny Koror morning; A happy ending of the sort rarely observed at court.