Simer Gets 10 years for SSA Anniversary Boating Tragedy

[Brien Simer: Driver of the Speedboat which killed a ten year old boy]

The Supreme Court of Palau has sentenced Brien Simer to 10-years imprisonment nearly one- year after the Social Security Administration anniversary celebration turned into a tragic event.

Simer, husband of SSA Adminstrator Ulai Teltull was sentenced to 10-years imprisonment after entering into a plea agreement with the Government of Palau for one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Criminal charges were quickly filed against Simer following the incident on June 29, 2014. He was originally facing nine charges including murder in the 2nd degree, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Eyewitness accounts reported to OTV at the time indicated that Simer who was operating a speedboat during the SSA function deliberately slammed into a government boat with passengers multiple times. One passenger was injured and 10-year old Jonas Markub, son of an SSA staff member, died from injuries sustained when he was crushed between the two boats.

This tragic incident caused a domino-like effect that resulted in tensions between the staff and the Administrator in addition to the resignation of the SSA’s entire board of directors in August 2014.

Simer is ordered to surrender himself to Koror Jail no later than 6:00 pm today, June 22, 2015 to serve his time.

Simer’s sentencing order also includes a unique condition, which would allow him to leave the jail to repair power generator-related problems at the Aimeliik Power Plant (APP). According to court documents, Simer is an employee of Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) and trained to maintain APP’s power generators .The order allows him to leave jail upon a proper notice to the Bureau of Public Safety by PPUC.

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