KOROR – The Supreme Court of Palau has sentenced a man who brutally attacked a Filipino worker of a popular burger joint in July 2013 to 30 years in prison.
Following a six-day jury trial in November 2013, Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong on January 8, 2014 sentenced Zylden Yano, aka Sheldon Yano, to 30 years in prison without possibility of parole for assaulting Jeremiah Pamintalan, a worker of Bem Ermii who survived the brutal attack.
Yano who opted for a jury trial last year was charged and convicted of first degree attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault and battery, robbery and grand larceny.
The Attorney-General’s Office expressed that “this was a historic case for the republic as it was only the country’s second jury trial in its history”.
In July 2013, Yano gained access to the Bem Ermii wagon in Airai and brutally attacked Mr Pamintalan with a bladed weapon.
Mr Pamintalan fortunately survived the vicious attack, but sustained severe injuries as a result.
Meanwhile, a halfway house is being considered for the Palau Bureau of Public Safety as a way to segregate inmates and improve security at the Division of Corrections.
Public Safety Director Ismael Aguon disclosed that the bureau is looking into constructing a halfway house this year.
One of the bureau’s biggest challenges is separating high-risk inmates or more violent inmates from others in the Koror jail.
Mr Aguon said the facility hadbeen in a poor state for decades and was not fit for the current profiles of inmates it houses.
