[ad_1]
Author: Olkeriil Eoghan Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau – A legal showdown has begun after Palau’s finance minister and the chief executive of the Public Utilities Commission ignored subpoenas issued by the Senate.
The Senate Committee on Energy, Public Utilities and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Kerai Mariur, subpoenaed Finance Secretary Kaleb Udui Jr. on July 8 and asked him to appear before it on July 22 to answer questions about solar energy and Solar Pacific Primitive Power (SPPP). Another subpoena on July 11 required Palau Public Utilities CEO Frank Kyota to appear before the same committee on July 23 to discuss the SPPP and provide relevant documents.
Kiotah, through his attorney, William L. Ridpath, challenged the validity of the subpoena, saying it did not meet statutory requirements. Kiotah is currently in Paris as president of the Palau National Olympic Committee and will not return to Palau until August 24.
Uduy appeared before the committee on July 23 but declined to answer questions after delivering a prepared statement. He later defended his actions, calling the hearing an “investigative hearing” rather than a routine session. He said he provided the Senate with more than 1,000 pages of documents.
Senate President Pauls said the Senate is filing a complaint with the attorney general and the interim special prosecutor over subpoena defiance, noting there could be a conflict of interest because the attorney general has an obligation to defend the Treasury secretary.
Under the subpoena, the Senate’s power to issue a subpoena is based on statutory authority, inherent constitutional power, or other lawful authority.
related
[ad_2]
Source link
