Kamesak Demek, of Ngardmau, Palau, was sentenced on May 3, 2019, by Presiding Justice Oldiais Ngiraikelau, after previously admitting to violating his probation, announced Special Prosecutor April Dawn Cripps of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Republic of Palau. Demek was convicted on October 14, 2017, for Tampering with Physical Evidence, Obstructing Government Operations, Misconduct in Public Office, and Possession of a Controlled Substance, receiving a split sentence of 18 months incarceration followed by 42 months probation.
Demek was released from his incarceration on August 14, 2018, and violated his probation on November 25, 2018, when he threatened Koror State Rangers with a knife.
Although the Special Prosecutor urged that Demek be sentenced to incarceration for the remainder of his probationary term based upon his violent actions against the Koror State Rangers, Presiding Justice Ngiraikelau asked Demek to apologize to the Koror State Rangers in person and to send a formal letter of apology to Koror State Ranger Director Olegeriil. Additionally, Demek was sentenced to complete the remainder of his original probation time including 20 days of weekend jail time, no possession of dangerous weapons, no consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs, and no further violations of law.
May 3, 2019 – The Court called Demek’s violation of probation an “unfortunate incident” citing Demek’s usage of alcohol as a contributing factor. Presiding Justice Ngiraikelau told Demek, a former police officer, the inexcusable part of this incident was that Demek knew what it was like to be a police officer and what the police had to face each and every day. The Court noted that Demek was young, had a family and children to take care of, and believed that Demek was “not a lost cause.” The Court also took into account the Koror State Rangers’ belief that Demek’s Court-directed apology was sincere. Demek begins his 20 days of weekend incarceration on Friday, May 9, 2019.