Madolenihmw Mayor resigns after council passes Articles of Impeachment

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Published: Monday, 30 November -0001 00:00
Written by Bill Jaynes
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By Bill Jaynes

The Kaselehlie Press

 

August 8, 2020

Madolenihmw, Pohnpei—On July 31, Meninkeder Lapalap (Mayor) Wein Madolenihmw Petrick F. Ringlen formally submitted his resignation to Madolenihmw Council Speaker Wensner John.

In February of this year, Pohnpei prosecutors filed criminal charges against four representatives of the Madolenihmw Executive Branch for the theft of over $67,000. Each of the defendants, including the former Mayor is charged with Grand Larceny, Embezzlement, Theft by Failure to Dispose of Funds Received, Cheating, Misconduct in Public Office and Criminal Conspiracy.  All of the charges stem from unreimbursed payroll advances the representatives drew. Ringlen is accused of having taken and not reimbursed over $29,000 in advances over the course of 12 years.

The prosecution of those cases is ongoing and all of the accused are presumed to be innocent unless charges are proven in court.

According to the attorney who does legal consultation work for the Madolenihmw Government, work on articles of impeachment against the former Mayor began shortly after news of the criminal charges came out.  Recently, the council passed articles of impeachment. However, the Counsel rescinded them after accepting the former Mayor’s resignation.

According to the Madolenihmw Constitution, Speaker Wensner John will be the acting Mayor for 90 days and a new election will have to be held.

Ringlen was the Madolenihmw Meninkeder Lapalap for more than 15 years.

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