DHL heir faces more drug trafficking charges

KOROR, Palau: An heir to the DHL Express empire has been arrested again in Palau for alleged drug trafficking, authorities in the Pacific island nation said yesterday.

Larry Hillbroom Jr., a multimillionaire who holds US and Palauan passports, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly dealing methamphetamine, Justice Minister Raynold Oilouch said.

According to court documents, Hillbroom was charged with two counts of trafficking a controlled substance, an offence which carries a sentence of 25- 50 years in Palau. He was already awaiting trial on a separate drug trafficking charge.

The Supreme Court set bail at US$ 250,000 which had not been posted by Friday, meaning the 32year- old remains in custody.

Hil lbroom is a son of DHL founder Larry Hillblom although their surnames are spel led differently.

He is one of four illegitimate children sired by Hillblom who successfully sued for a slice of the billionaire businessman’s fortune after he died in a plane crash in 1995.

Hillbroom’s inheritance has been estimated at US$ 100 million, although he said earlier this year that financial mismanagement meant it was now much less.

Normally based in the United States, Hillbroom was visiting Palau last year when he was arrested for allegedly arranging for two women to smuggle methamphetamine from Manila to Palau. He f led from custody after his arrest but was caught at a resort one night later when police plucked him from the sea as he tried to swim away. — AFP