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Saturday, 13 December 2008 15:58 |
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US drop charges against Minister
 Associate Minister Hans Joachim Keil is a free man.
He is not only coming home for Christmas, his name has been cleared and his United States citizenship has been restored.
A United States Federal Court judge in Missouri yesterday dismissed all criminal charges against Mr Keil, based on a motion filed by the U.S Attorney’s office in Springfield.
The motion did not specify the reasons for dropping the charges, except to say that in the interest of justice, asked the Court to dismiss the case without prejudice.
U.S. District Court Judge James C. England granted the motion.
Judge England also issued an order to refund Mr Keil’s US$25,000 security deposit for his bond release.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoli’ai Sa’ilele Malielegaoi issued a special statement.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has received advice from our office in New York this morning that all charges that were brought against Hon Hans Joachim Keil have now been dismissed as of today Friday 12 December 2008,” Tuilaepa said.
“Further, the prior cancellation of Hon Joe Keil’s US passport will be revoked and that his proof of US citizenship is restored.”
“The Government wishes to advise this good news publically. Hon Joe Keil’s diplomatic passport was however returned to him yesterd
ay. The matter of the return of his US passport and other US documents is yet to be completed.”
Tuilaepa told the media the Government was pleased with the decision by the United States.
He said Mr Keil’s case had become a major issue of discussion where Samoans here and abroad have expressed dissatisfaction over the handling of the matter.
The Prime Minister said yesterday’s decision should be the end of the matter.
Mr Keil’s U.S.-based attorney, John Kizer, said the decision proves Mr Keil has always been a U.S citizen.
“We are very pleased that the U.S. Attorney has dismissed the case,” Mr Kizer said in a statement.
“The decision by the U.S. Attorney today (yesterday) to dismiss the case vindicates Mr. Keil’s claim that he was, and has always been a citizen of the United States.
“Mr. Keil has honorably served this country in the military in a time of war. We regret he and his family had to suffer during the period of time he was incarcerated in the Green County Jail and while this matter was pending for several months.
“We hope Mr. Keil can get back to the normalcy in his life as a family man, Samoan Public Servant, Samoan Diplomat, and businessman.”
Mr Keil was arrested on 10 September in Missouri. He was charged with one count of falsely and willfully representing himself to be a U.S. citizen and one count of willfully and knowingly using and attempting to use a U.S. passport.
It is not known when he would return. Back
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