62. What other institutions have a formal role in political finance oversight?

The Public Auditor shall conduct mandatory audits of campaign statements filed by candidates for the Office of President and Vice President of the Republic and shall conduct random audits of other statements filed under this chapter for the purpose of encouraging compliance with and detecting violations of this chapter. The Public Auditor shall conduct an audit of any statement filed under this chapter if requested to do so by the Commission, Attorney General or Special Prosecutor. The Public Auditor shall annually prepare and transmit to the Commission, Attorney General and Special Prosecutor a report containing the findings of the Public Auditor with respect to the accuracy and completeness of each report and statement reviewed and his findings with respect to any statement or report that should have been but was not filed.

Source: Article 609, Palau National Code, Title 33 Public Employment Chapter 6 Code of Ethics revised edition April 2014

a) Criminal penalties. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition to other penalties provided by law, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) shall be imposed for each violation. For violations of the reporting requirements, a fine of up to three (3) times the amount the person failed to report properly may be imposed for conviction of each violation. Prosecution under this subsection must be commenced within four (4) years after the date on which the violation occurred, or in the case of a public official, four (4) years after the public official leaves government service. Prosecution under this section may be undertaken by the Attorney General or Special Prosecutor.

(b) Civil penalties. Any person who intentionally or negligently violates any provision of this chapter shall be liable in a civil action brought by the Commission, Attorney General, the Special Prosecutor or a citizen of the Republic for an amount not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or, in the case of a violation of the reporting provisions of this chapter, an amount not more than the amount or value not properly reported or ten thousand dollars ($10,000), whichever is greater. If a judgment is entered against the defendant in an action brought by a citizen of the Republic, the plaintiff shall receive fifty percent (50%) of the amount recovered, and shall be entitled to recover from the defendant his costs of litigation, including reasonable attorneys' fees. Before a citizen may bring an action pursuant to this section, the citizen must submit a written request to the Commission, Attorney General and Special Prosecutor asking that they bring a civil action and a written statement setting [forth] the specific facts upon which the citizen bases his or her allegation. If the Commission, Attorney General and Special Prosecutor fail to bring a civil action within sixty (60) days after receipt of the written request, or bring an action that is later dismissed without prejudice to the filing of another action, the citizen may thereafter bring a civil action pursuant to this section. An action under this subsection must be commenced within four (4) years after the date on which the violation occurred.

Source: Article 611, Palau National Code, Title 33 Public Employment Chapter 6 Code of Ethics revised edition April 2014

The Public Auditor conducts a mandatory audit of the campaign statements filed by all candidates for President and Vice President and random audits of campaign statments by other candidates.

The Ethics Commission may lodge a civil case and the Attorney General or Special Prosecutor a criminal case to the Court in relation to breaches by candidates of the Code of Ethics in relation to campaign statements