On Monday, July 27, 2020, Leon Guilbert, the current President of the 19th Olbiil Era Ngeaur, was arrested on 24 separate criminal violations.Mr. Gulibert was charged with nine felonies and 15 misdemeanors including the following:
Two violations of Misconduct in Public Office [17PNC§4204 and 17PNC§3918]-both felonies. Mr. Gulibert is accused of misreporting income of his business Green Pine Store in Angaur, in 2018 and 2019.
Two violations of the Ethics Code [33PNC§605]-both misdemeanors. The alleged misrepresentation of his income are also charged as violation of Ethics Code.
Two violations of Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree [17PNC§l409(a)]-both felonies. These charges alleged that Mr. Gulibert threatened an employee, name redacted, verbally, stabbing her hand with pen, holding sickle to her neck, shooting her or at her with air gun and other threats at different times.
One count of Assault in the Second Degree[17PNC§1402(a)]-a felony, alleged Mr. Gulibert shot the employee, name redacted, with airgun and pellet penetrated her skin.
One count of Assault in the Third Degree[17PNC§1403(a)]-a misdemeanor, alleged also that Gulibert stabbed the woman’s hand, name redacted, with a pen.
The charges also alleged sexual harassment of the same victim. Two counts of Sexual Harassment [17PNC§1608(a)]-both misdemeanors.
One count Theft in the Second Degree[17PNC§2603)]-a felony, involved allegation that Gulibert took money belonging to the same victim.
Seven counts Non-Payment of Wages (Labor·Trafficking) [17PNC§2006(c)]-each a misdemeanor.
Three counts Unified Tax Act-failure to keep records of transactions[40PNC§1601]-each a misdemeanor. Mr. Gulibert is charged with falsifying his store income and failing to keep records of his business daily transactions.
Three counts Unified Tax Act- false and fraudulent returns [40PNC§1701(c)]-each a felony.
The Defendant is expected to have his initial appearance before Presiding Justice Oldiais Ngiraikelau in the Trial Division of the Palau Supreme Court on Tuesday morning, July28,2020,at approximately 8:00-8:30a.m.
April Dawn Cripps, Special Prosecutor for the Republic of Palau, made the announcement and will be prosecuting the case with support from Jacob Gordin, Assistant Special Prosecutor.
The Information contains numerous allegations of criminal conduct against the Defendant. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.