The
June 16 - 29, 2025
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Kaselehlie Press
The
July 16, 2025
Free bi-weekly publication
KASELEHLIE PRESS PO Box 2222 Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
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Vol. 25 Issue No. 15
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Governor Joseph confirms Herolyn Movick’s victory in Special Election for Lt. Governor By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press July 14, 2025 Kolonia, Pohnpei—Governor Stevenson A. Joseph today officially declared Herolyn S. Movick the winner of the July 2 special election to fill the vacant seat of Lieutenant Governor of Pohnpei State. The announcement was made through Executive Declaration No. 2025-01, following the constitutional and statutory processes outlined in the Pohnpei State Constitution and State Code. According to Article 6, Section 4(2) of the Pohnpei Constitution, special elections are held as provided by statute when vacancies arise.
The special election was conducted under the oversight of the Pohnpei State Election Commissioner, who is designated by law as the Chief Election Official. The Commissioner is responsible for overseeing the voter registration process, managing the election, and ensuring that counting and tabulation procedures comply with legal requirements.
No complaints or claims of irregularities were filed in relation to the July 2 election, which cleared the way for the Governor to make the declaration without delay. Under Title 10, Section 6-128(3) of the Pohnpei State Code, parties may contest election outcomes within one week of the election or prior to the certification of results. No such challenges were submitted.
After the election results were finalized and certified, the Commissioner transmitted the certification to Governor Joseph, as required by Title 10, Section 6-135 of the Pohnpei State Code. The law mandates the Governor to declare the winning candidates following certification.
“I now declare Honorable Herolyn S. Movick for Lieutenant Governor the victor to have received the required majority votes casted on July 2, 2025,” Governor Joseph stated in the official declaration issued today.
Movick will now assume the office of Lieutenant Governor following the successful conclusion of the special election process.
Penias: ‘The Storm Has Passed’ after FSM grant fund theft charges dismissed By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press
O’Sonis filed a motion to dismiss the charges, citing procedural rules that require both the defendant’s and the July 13, 2025 court’s permission for a prosecutor to FSM—After several months of court dismiss charges. proceedings, the FSM government has moved to dismiss all criminal charges The court customarily considers in its against Stuard Penias and Linda Primo dismissal decisions whether the action Amor for the alleged theft of grant funds. involves harassment of the defendants and whether a bona fide reason, such In May, Penias, through his public as insufficient evidence to obtain a defender, filed a motion to dismiss the conviction, exists for the dismissal. “It charges. In June, Amor’s public defender also has to consider whether dismissal is filed a motion to join her co-defendant’s in the public interest,” stated the court’s motion to dismiss. Later that month, FSM June 26, 2025, order of dismissal. Assistant Attorney General Bethwell
Dismissals under the rule invoked by the prosecutor are “without prejudice,” meaning that if a prosecutor later resolves the deficiencies in the case, charges can technically be refiled. However, the statute of limitations for the charges in question has since expired. As a result, any attempt to refile would be immediately dismissed as “time-barred.” Legally, charges dismissed without prejudice are treated as though they were never filed.
support a reasonable likelihood of conviction at trial. “The Government represents that key witnesses’ statements are inconsistent, unverified, and fail to establish the essential elements of the alleged offense(s). The Government further represents that there is no physical or documentary evidence that can be used to refute the defendants’ explanation,” the order said.
On June 26, Associate Justice Chang B. William ruled that the court finds the The court’s ruling noted that the motion to dismiss to be in the public prosecutor represented in his motion that there is insufficient evidence to Click here for continuation on page 4
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