KANAKO MONGKEYA v. MILES TOLENOA, TOTIANA MILES

KOSRAE STATE COURT

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA

Cite as Mongkeya v. Tolena & Totiana, (Kosrae 1995)

[Kos.St.pg 01]

KANAKO MONGKEYA, ON

behalf of herself and her

daughter Eunolina Mongkeya

Petitioner

vs,

MILES TOLENOA AND

TOTIANA MILES,

Respondents.

CIVLIL CASE NO. 17-95

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

This is an action originally petition this Court to issue a writ of habeas corpus, commanding respondents herein to produce Eunolina Mongkeya before this Court at a time and place specified therein.

FACTS

1. Petitioner Kanako Mongkeya gave birth to Eunolina Mongkeya on October 31, 1993 at the Kosrae State Hospital while petitioner was living with the respondents.

2. In March of 1994 petitioner moved out from the residence of the respondets with her daughter subject child to her adoptive mother's (Biolla Mongkeya) residence.

3. After learning that petitioner left with the minor to Biolla's residence, Arlinda C. Tolenoa went to Biolla's home and seized the minor child against the will of the petitioner and took the child away.

[Kos. St. pg 02]

4. The minor child was born out of wedlock, however, the father of the mi,or is believed to be the brother of Arlinda C. Tolenoa.

5. In June of 1994, the petitioner met the subject minor child at Tafunsak Municipal Office and took her home.

6. In the same evening the respondents went to petitioner's residence and seized the minor child.

7. Since June of 1994, the subject minor child has been with the respondents.

8. At one time in 1995 respondent Totiana left for Guam with the minor subject child to be reunited with respondent Miles Tolenoa.

9. Petitioner has testified that she is capable of taking care of or raising minor child since she has experience in raising her other minor child.

10. The subject minor child has returned from Guam and was present at the hearing.

11. The interests of the minor subject child was hotly contested at the hearing.

12. There has been no decree confirming customary adoption by the respondents.

DISCUSSION

Under Kosrae law, writs of habeas corpus are governed by Chapter 34 of Title 6 of the Kosrae Code. May 19, 1995 was the first time the respondents through their counsel filed an answer to the complaint.

Under KC Section 6.3105, it provides in part, that:

If an adoption has occurred in accordance with tradition and its validity is in question or dispute, an interested party may

[Kos. St. pg 03]

file a petition under oath in the Court for a decree confirming the ...adoption.

This appears to be the case at hand. The natural mother, with her minor subject child lived at respondents' residence after birth and upon leaving the respondents' residence with the minor subject child, the respondents went Pnd seized the minor subject child without the consent of the natural mother There has been no adoption case on the subject minor child in our court by these respondents to determine her adoption status. There being no confirmation of adoption yet on the minor subject child, the validity of such is in dispute.

CONCLUSION

It is sufficiently clear that Eunolina has not been legally or customarily adopted by the respondents. And since petitioner is the natural mother of Eunolina Mongkeya, the natural father abondoned the minor subject child and forfeited his rights to the child's custody, and that petitioner is not unfit to provide parental care for said child, petitioner's right to the custody of Eunolina Mongkeya is superior.

The court hereby issue its writ of habeas corpus, commanding the two respondents to return Eunolina Mongkyea to petitioner Kanako Mongkeya no later than 4:30, June 16, 1995.

SO ORDERED the 13 th day of June, 1995.

/s/

________________

Lyndon L. Cornelius

Chief justice

Entered this I3th day of June, 1995.

/s/

________________________

Chief Clerk of Court, Kosrae


	KOSRAE STATE COURT FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA Cite as Mongkeya v. Tolena & Totiana, (Kosrae 1995) [Kos.St.pg 01] KANAKO MONGKEYA, ON behalf of herself and her daughter Eunolina Mongkeya Petitioner vs, MILES TOLENOA AND TOTIANA MILES, Respondents. CIVLIL CASE NO. 17-95 WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS This is an action originally petition this Court to issue a writ of habeas corpus, commanding respondents herein to produce Eunolina Mongkeya before this Court at a time and place specified therein. FACTS 1. Petitioner Kanako Mongkeya gave birth to Eunolina Mongkeya on October 31, 1993 at the Kosrae State Hospital while petitioner was living with the respondents. 2. In March of 1994 petitioner moved out from the residence of the respondets with her daughter subject child to her adoptive mother's (Biolla Mongkeya) residence. 3. After learning that petitioner left with the minor to Biolla's residence, Arlinda C. Tolenoa went to Biolla's home and seized the minor child against the will of the petitioner and took the child away. [Kos. St. pg 02] 4. The minor child was born out of wedlock, however, the father of the mi,or is believed to be the brother of Arlinda C. Tolenoa. 5. In June of 1994, the petitioner met the subject minor child at Tafunsak Municipal Office and took her home. 6. In the same evening the respondents went to petitioner's residence and seized the minor child. 7. Since June of 1994, the subject minor child has been with the respondents. 8. At one time in 1995 respondent Totiana left for Guam with the minor subject child to be reunited with respondent Miles Tolenoa. 9. Petitioner has testified that she is capable of taking care of or raising minor child since she has experience in raising her other minor child. 10. The subject minor child has returned from Guam and was present at the hearing. 11. The interests of the minor subject child was hotly contested at the hearing. 12. There has been no decree confirming customary adoption by the respondents. DISCUSSION Under Kosrae law, writs of habeas corpus are governed by Chapter 34 of Title 6 of the Kosrae Code. May 19, 1995 was the first time the respondents through their counsel filed an answer to the complaint. Under KC Section 6.3105, it provides in part, that: If an adoption has occurred in accordance with tradition and its validity is in question or dispute, an interested party may [Kos. St. pg 03] file a petition under oath in the Court for a decree confirming the ...adoption. This appears to be the case at hand. The natural mother, with her minor subject child lived at respondents' residence after birth and upon leaving the respondents' residence with the minor subject child, the respondents went Pnd seized the minor subject child without the consent of the natural mother There has been no adoption case on the subject minor child in our court by these respondents to determine her adoption status. There being no confirmation of adoption yet on the minor subject child, the validity of such is in dispute. CONCLUSION It is sufficiently clear that Eunolina has not been legally or customarily adopted by the respondents. And since petitioner is the natural mother of Eunolina Mongkeya, the natural father abondoned the minor subject child and forfeited his rights to the child's custody, and that petitioner is not unfit to provide parental care for said child, petitioner's right to the custody of Eunolina Mongkeya is superior. The court hereby issue its writ of habeas corpus, commanding the two respondents to return Eunolina Mongkyea to petitioner Kanako Mongkeya no later than 4:30, June 16, 1995. SO ORDERED the 13 th day of June, 1995. /s/ ________________ Lyndon L. Cornelius Chief justice Entered this I3th day of June, 1995. /s/ ________________________ Chief Clerk of Court, Kosrae