By: Olkeriil Eoghan Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau – A legal showdown is brewing in Palau after the finance minister and the CEO of the Public Utilities Commission defied subpoenas issued by the Senate.
The Senate’s Committee on Energy, Public Utilities, and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Kerai Mariur, summoned Finance Minister Kaleb Udui Jr. on July 8 to appear on July 22 and answer questions about solar power and Solar Pacific Pristine Power (SPPP). A separate subpoena on July 11 ordered Palau Public Utilities Corporation CEO Frank Kyota to appear before the same committee on July 23 to discuss SPPP and provide related documents.
Kyota, through attorney William L. Ridpath, challenged the subpoena’s validity, claiming it didn’t comply with statutory requirements. Kyota is currently in Paris as president of the Palau National Olympic Committee and won’t return to Palau until Aug. 24.
Udui appeared before the committee on July 23 but refused to answer questions after delivering a prepared statement. He later defended his actions, calling the hearing an “investigative hearing” rather than a regular meeting. He said he provided the Senate with more than 1,000 pages of documents.
Senate President Baules said the Senate is filing complaints with the attorney general and the interim special prosecutor over the subpoena defiance. He noted a potential conflict of interest because the attorney general is obligated to defend the finance minister.
According to the subpoena, the Senate’s authority to issue subpoenas is based on statutory authority, inherent constitutional power, or other lawful authority.