KOROR, Palau (Aug. 4, 2025) — The Supreme Court of Palau has sentenced two men to prison in separate criminal cases involving the possession of methamphetamine, following guilty pleas reached through plea agreements with the government.
In Criminal Case No. 25-021, defendant Horseley Saka pled guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and two counts of possession of ammunition. The court sentenced Saka to 15 years imprisonment, with six years to be served and the remaining nine years suspended. He will be placed on supervised probation during the suspended portion of the sentence.
As part of the court’s ruling issued July 30, Saka must also:
- Pay a $10,000 fine
- Complete 400 hours of community service
- Undergo evaluation and attend substance abuse and anger management programs
- Abide by a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for 18 months after release
- Avoid contact with known drug offenders and submit to random drug testing at his own expense
The judgment warns that violation of any probation terms may result in revocation and reinstatement of the suspended sentence.
In Criminal Case No. 25-046, the court sentenced Billy William Jr., also known as Billy Kumangai, to five years imprisonment, with two years to be served immediately and three years suspended, following his guilty plea to possession of 0.71 grams of methamphetamine. The court gave Kumangai credit for time served since May 23 and noted his ineligibility for work release.
The sentence, entered on July 28, also requires Kumangai to:
- Pay a $10,000 fine before the end of probation
- Complete 400 hours of community service
- Follow a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew
- Submit to random drug testing
- Remain within Palau’s jurisdiction and report to the probation office as directed
The court emphasized that its decision took into account the small quantity of drugs, the absence of prior convictions, and the defendant’s financial circumstances. Like in Saka’s case, any violation of the probation terms could trigger a revocation of the suspended sentence.