Office of the Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Palau
OSP
Summary
The OSP is an independent prosecutorial office established in 1985 and substantially strengthened in 2013 (RPPL 9-9). The Special Prosecutor is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a 5-year term, removable only for cause with OEK notice. Under 2 PNC § 503, the OSP may investigate any constitutional or statutory violation by any government actor — including police — inspect all government books and records without restriction, and (upon a court probable-cause finding) subpoena witnesses and compel testimony. The OSP does not issue discipline directly but prosecutes criminal charges. It has own investigators and operates independently of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Mixed (multi-branch) |
|---|---|
| Term length | 5 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | Yes |
| Compel testimony | Yes |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | No |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Special Prosecutors Act
- Citation
- 2 PNC §§ 501–507 (as amended by RPPL No. 2-7 (1985), RPPL No. 3-33 (1990), RPPL No. 6-37 (2003), RPPL No. 9-9 (2013), RPPL No. 9-24 (2014))
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
All branches of national and state government of the Republic of Palau, including all ministries, agencies, and officials; explicitly empowered to investigate and prosecute any violation of the Constitution or laws, including by law-enforcement officers of the Bureau of Public Safety.