Koror, Palau – On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, Airai State Government Procurement Officer, Vilma Yoshiwo, was charged in CR 21-067 for Misconduct in Public Office, a violation of the Code of Ethics, and Theft of Government Property in the First Degree.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) received information alleging corruption by Procurement Officer Yoshiwo within the Airai State Government. An investigation yielded documents obtained from various sources that led to the above-listed charges being filed, including allegations that Yoshiwo “authorized or directed Airai State employees to use Airai State Government time, equipment, facilities, assets or property” to renovate a family home or conduct manual labor at the personal home of Yoshiwo.
Ms. Yoshiwo is scheduled for an initial appearance in the Palau Supreme Court Trial Division before Associate Justice Honora E. Remengesau Rudimch on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 1:45 p.m. in Courtroom 104 at the Judiciary Building in Koror. Please visit www.palauosp.org for updates on OSP criminal prosecutions and related documents.
April Dawn Cripps, Special Prosecutor for the Republic of Palau, made the announcement and will be prosecuting the case together with G. Midth Bells, Assistant Special Prosecutor.
NOTE: A criminal complaint (Information) contains allegations that a defendant committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.