By: L.N. Reklai
January 18, 2018 (Koror, Palau) Vice President and Minister of Justice Raynold Oilouch strongly deny the allegations made during the Tuesday Senate session that drug evidence held by police have been stolen and distributed into the community.
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“I called emergency meeting with my staff the day I heard the allegations and again yesterday and they’ve have checked and doubled checked and no drug held in evidence have been taken or missing,” asserted VP Oilouch.
“Only specific persons have keys to that evidence and logs are kept. They’ve gone through the evidence and none is missing. There is no truth whatsoever in the information that was shared in the Senate session,” he added.
Director Ismael Aquon of Narcotics Enforcement Agency in a letter to Senate President Hokkons Baules assured him that all seized drugs in the possession and control of the NEA are secured and accounted for.
Furthermore, Director Aquon stated that the false statements have created panic and concern in the community and NEA had to divert its focus from its work to reassure the public that such problem had not occurred.
Director Aquon called information shared during the Senate session of January 16 unfounded and reckless.
Vice President Oilouch added that he meets daily with each division of the Ministry daily to keep abreast of issues and work progress. He said he was taken by surprise when someone informed him about the discussions at the Senate regular session on Tuesday.
Both Vice President Oilouch and Director Aquon assured public that no drug evidence is missing. [/restrict]