By SCM REPORTER
TWO powerful Pacific politicians in Palau Senate have been slapped with a lifetime ban from the United States after being accused of “significant corruption” and selling out to China.
In a bombshell move, the U.S. State Department has blacklisted Hokkons Baules, the President of the Palau Senate, and Anderson Jibas, the former mayor of the Marshall Islands’ Kili/Bikini/Ejit community.
The pair—along with their immediate families—are now barred from entering America as Washington cracks down on “malign influence” in the Pacific.
Top-ranking Senator Baules is accused of abusing his high-office to take bribes from Chinese-based actors.
U.S. officials say he acted as a mouthpiece for Beijing, providing “advocacy and support” for Chinese business and even criminal interests in exchange for kickbacks.
Washington warned his shady dealings have directly harmed American interests in the region.
Even more shocking is the case of former mayor Anderson Jibas.
He is accused of orchestrating a massive “misappropriation scheme” to loot the Bikini Resettlement Trust—a fund set up by the U.S. to help survivors and descendants of 1940s nuclear bomb tests.
Instead of helping the victims of atomic testing, Jibas allegedly stole the cash for himself. The U.S. State Department says his greed led to:
Job losses for locals
Food shortages
Power blackouts * Mass migration to the U.S.
’NO ESCAPE’
A spokesperson for the State Department said: “The United States will continue to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for personal gain and steal from our citizens to enrich themselves.”
The ban was triggered by strict anti-corruption laws which require the Secretary of State to name and shame foreign officials when there is “credible information” of dirty dealings.
