Overview:
A Palau Housing Authority employee is facing four felony theft charges after investigators alleged she collected $7,281.98 from 19 clients over more than two years, claiming the payments were for housing loans, fire insurance and other PHA-related fees. Court documents detail multiple alleged cash transactions, including payments from clients who said they never received official receipts.
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau (August 20, 2026) — A Palau Housing Authority (PHA) employee has been charged with four counts of theft in the second degree after investigators alleged she collected $7,281.98 from 19 PHA clients over a period of more than two years.
Kukong Khalye Hilbert is accused of collecting unauthorized payments between January 1, 2023, and March 30, 2025, allegedly telling clients the money was for home fire insurance, housing-loan payments, application fees or bidding fees. The charges were filed in the Supreme Court of the Republic of Palau Trial Division under Criminal Case No. 26-051.
According to a police affidavit, the investigation began after Palau Housing Authority Executive Director Jovalyn L. Koshiba reported complaints to the Division of Criminal Investigation on March 27, 2025.
Investigators alleged that Kukong collected money directly from clients without authorization. The affidavit states that PHA management confirmed Kukong was not authorized to collect the payments and that PHA does not handle home fire-insurance payments for clients.
Court documents state that Kukong admitted she was experiencing financial difficulties and purchased a receipt book from West Office Supply, which she allegedly used to issue receipts for some of the cash payments.
One of the largest alleged losses involved Yoko K. Woodcock, who investigators said paid Kukong a total of $2,482.55 in housing-loan payments.
According to the affidavit, Kukong allegedly collected $354.65 payments from Yoko on several occasions, including payments made in May, June, July and August 2024. Investigators also reviewed Yoko’s bank records and communications between Kukong and Yoko’s daughter regarding additional payments.
Kukong issued receipts for some of the payments, but PHA later determined that the receipts were not official PHA receipts. Yoko’s daughter also allegedly requested a receipt for a November payment of $354.65, but Kukong did not provide one.
The affidavit also states that Kukong collected $1,000 from Remeliik Ngchar as an initial housing-loan payment. Ngchar allegedly asked his sister to count and verify the money before handing it to Kukong at his residence.
In February 2025, Kukong allegedly contacted Ngchar for the second time and said she had been instructed by her supervisor Jovalyn Koshiba to collect another $426 for home fire insurance through Melekau Insurance. Ngchar allegedly gave her the money after she promised to provide a receipt.
Investigators said Ngchar never received receipts for either payment. The affidavit also states that Melekau Insurance had not received the alleged insurance payment.
Mr. and Mrs. Daichingo Singeru and Opkal Ngiracheluolw allegedly paid Kukong a combined total of $635 in separate transactions.
In November 2024, the couple allegedly paid Kukong $235 for home fire insurance. They reportedly met her near Pin An Store in Idid Hamlet and were told that a receipt would be provided later.
The affidavit also states that Ngiracheluolw paid Kukong $100 toward a PHA housing loan on September 3, 2024. She allegedly recorded the date on an envelope and was promised a receipt, but none was provided.
Later, Kukong told the couple that a deceased relative’s fire-insurance policy had expired and required a $300 renewal payment. Ngiracheluolw allegedly paid the amount near PNCC building.
The four counts filed against Kukong each allege theft in the second degree involving property valued at more than $300, the offense is classified as a Class C felony punishable by one to five years’ imprisonment and an optional fine of up to $10,000.
The case involves 19 alleged victims and $7,281.98 in total alleged losses.