Tsukude Governor, Aide Charged in Sex Scandal 04/19/3133
INN - Interstellar News Network
OGAWA CITY, TSUKUDE (PREFECTURE I)--Tsukude Planetary Governor, Count
Daniel Jaranto, and his Minister of Justice, Raul Tate, were formally charged today in
relation to an ongoing investigation into allegations by three capitol building aides that
the Governor sexually assaulted them following a holiday party last month. An official
close to the case said that the names of the accusers are presently being withheld to
protect their right to privacy, but added that the charges may only be the first in what
appears to be a long history of sexual misconduct allegedly committed by the
planetary ruler and his most trusted advisor.
“There is sufficient evidence to warrant a deeper investigation, possibly going back as
far as 3129,” said the official, who spoke to INN on the condition of anonymity. “The
allegations being made are credible and very serious, as are the individuals making
them. From their statements, we think there is a pattern of misconduct that has
somehow been kept out of sight for four years before someone finally found the
courage to come forward.”
Governor Jaranto--who has been married to Countess Leslie Jaranto of the East
Domashini province for 12 years--stands accused of using his authority to blackmail
three female members of his palace staff into granting him sexual favors. Tate, his
close friend and minister of justice, faces similar charges from one of the same
women, as well as additional charges stemming from his alleged efforts to cover up
the scandal. Jaranto himself, however, insists that he is innocent, and in a written
statement issued to INN shortly after the charges were filed, claims that he is being
set up by political rivals.
“These groundless allegations are as far from the truth as one can possibly get short
of science fiction,” Jaranto wrote. “Those who have accused me are merely pawns of
the unscrupulous few who are opposed to the politics of my administration. This
entire matter is a sham--a complete waste of taxpayer money--and should be
summarily thrown out if there is to be any real justice.”
From his home in Ogawa City, Minister of Justice Tate declined to answer any
questions regarding the accusations, except to declare his own innocence.
In what’s already shaping up to be a historic case pitting the upper echelon of
Tsukude nobility against the ranks of the common people, the planetary Parliament is
racing to find suitable legal representation for each side. Should the matter go to trial,
it remains unclear whether Jaranto and Tate plan to retain attorneys or mount their
own defense--which both men could do, given their legal backgrounds. The
prosecution, meanwhile, is already being considered by the planetary Legislature, with
Baron Daryl Scott-Haipei, one of Count Jaranto’s most outspoken critics, emerging as
the favored candidate for the job. Scott-Haipei, himself an expert in the local justice
system, could not be reached for comment, but a source close to him told INN that
he is willing to assume the responsibility.
“Baron Scott-Haipei will be only too glad to perform his civic duty,” said Martin
Laskler, a personal aide to the Baron of Tsukude’s Southern Kyuna province.
“Although he holds the position of Governor in the highest esteem, he realizes that the
man and the office are not always of equivalent character.”
The scandal threatens to further disrupt a political system already brimming with
tension. The local nobility and political leadership remain sharply divided over issues
like interplanetary trade, self-sufficiency, planetary defense, and industrial expansion.
Tsukude, a world forced to import most of its food because humans are biological
incompatible with the world’s native flora and fauna, has felt the isolation of the
shattered communications network more keenly than most over the past few months.
Combined with increasingly unreliable and irregular space traffic, shortages of even
the most basic necessities have begun to mount, and leading economic indicators have
begun to drop. The planet’s location, close to the Draconis Combine border, and its
history as a long-time part of House Kurita, has many locals fearing an imminent
strike by either the Dragon’s Fury or the Combine itself. The resident Knight, Katya
Chimiso, however, feels that domestic matters now plaguing the world’s current
administration will not impact efforts to defend the planet itself.
“There is politics, and then there is practicality,” said Chimiso. “That is why worlds
like [Tsukude] possess an apolitical standing militia, rather than an amalgamation of
house security forces that bow to their individual masters. Whatever the outcome of
the current political crisis, we should be able to maintain planetary security should any
force invade.”
If convicted of the charges, both Jaranto and Tate could face prison time as well as
expulsion from the nobility.
Towne Log
+ Sex and the Not-So-Single Count: a new reality series coming soon to INN! What
do you think, eh? :- RepMan
+ Oh, this oughta be good! Jaranto and his buddy really stepped in it now! :- WetWillie
+ You can’t believe anything will come of this, can you, Willie? You’ve got the people
in the highest office on the planet being accused by their secretaries of misconduct. It’
s the word of a noble against the word of some commoners. Who do you REALLY
think is going to win? :- Synnik
+ Oh, brother! I can just see this coming: primetime tri-vid coverage, live via HPG, of
this lousy stinking travesty of justice. I hate when celebrities get in trouble, because
we all have to listen to it like it was some kind of reality series. :- GM01379
+ Even worse like this, GM. Because not only do we have to listen to it all, but also by
the time the public makes up its mind that the two are guilty--and right now, even
with as little as we’ve got, I’m guessing they are--the judge or magistrate or whatever
will find them innocent. A total waste of time and energy, if you ask me. :- Synnik
+ It’s official: We just got a glimpse of a planet in worse shape than our own. At least
our nobility can get along, more or less. I won’t be surprised at all if this time next
year Tsukude is either a Combine holding or just a totally anarchy. :- FMLurder
+ I wonder what would happen if they DO find Jaranto guilty, though. Do you think
he’ll just quietly step down and go to jail? :- Kurious
+ Hell, no, but I’m more interested in hearing what the Countess will have to say
about all this! Amazing nobody bothered to get her take on the whole thing, huh? :-
WetWillie
INN - Interstellar News Network
OGAWA CITY, TSUKUDE (PREFECTURE I)--Tsukude Planetary Governor, Count
Daniel Jaranto, and his Minister of Justice, Raul Tate, were formally charged today in
relation to an ongoing investigation into allegations by three capitol building aides that
the Governor sexually assaulted them following a holiday party last month. An official
close to the case said that the names of the accusers are presently being withheld to
protect their right to privacy, but added that the charges may only be the first in what
appears to be a long history of sexual misconduct allegedly committed by the
planetary ruler and his most trusted advisor.
“There is sufficient evidence to warrant a deeper investigation, possibly going back as
far as 3129,” said the official, who spoke to INN on the condition of anonymity. “The
allegations being made are credible and very serious, as are the individuals making
them. From their statements, we think there is a pattern of misconduct that has
somehow been kept out of sight for four years before someone finally found the
courage to come forward.”
Governor Jaranto--who has been married to Countess Leslie Jaranto of the East
Domashini province for 12 years--stands accused of using his authority to blackmail
three female members of his palace staff into granting him sexual favors. Tate, his
close friend and minister of justice, faces similar charges from one of the same
women, as well as additional charges stemming from his alleged efforts to cover up
the scandal. Jaranto himself, however, insists that he is innocent, and in a written
statement issued to INN shortly after the charges were filed, claims that he is being
set up by political rivals.
“These groundless allegations are as far from the truth as one can possibly get short
of science fiction,” Jaranto wrote. “Those who have accused me are merely pawns of
the unscrupulous few who are opposed to the politics of my administration. This
entire matter is a sham--a complete waste of taxpayer money--and should be
summarily thrown out if there is to be any real justice.”
From his home in Ogawa City, Minister of Justice Tate declined to answer any
questions regarding the accusations, except to declare his own innocence.
In what’s already shaping up to be a historic case pitting the upper echelon of
Tsukude nobility against the ranks of the common people, the planetary Parliament is
racing to find suitable legal representation for each side. Should the matter go to trial,
it remains unclear whether Jaranto and Tate plan to retain attorneys or mount their
own defense--which both men could do, given their legal backgrounds. The
prosecution, meanwhile, is already being considered by the planetary Legislature, with
Baron Daryl Scott-Haipei, one of Count Jaranto’s most outspoken critics, emerging as
the favored candidate for the job. Scott-Haipei, himself an expert in the local justice
system, could not be reached for comment, but a source close to him told INN that
he is willing to assume the responsibility.
“Baron Scott-Haipei will be only too glad to perform his civic duty,” said Martin
Laskler, a personal aide to the Baron of Tsukude’s Southern Kyuna province.
“Although he holds the position of Governor in the highest esteem, he realizes that the
man and the office are not always of equivalent character.”
The scandal threatens to further disrupt a political system already brimming with
tension. The local nobility and political leadership remain sharply divided over issues
like interplanetary trade, self-sufficiency, planetary defense, and industrial expansion.
Tsukude, a world forced to import most of its food because humans are biological
incompatible with the world’s native flora and fauna, has felt the isolation of the
shattered communications network more keenly than most over the past few months.
Combined with increasingly unreliable and irregular space traffic, shortages of even
the most basic necessities have begun to mount, and leading economic indicators have
begun to drop. The planet’s location, close to the Draconis Combine border, and its
history as a long-time part of House Kurita, has many locals fearing an imminent
strike by either the Dragon’s Fury or the Combine itself. The resident Knight, Katya
Chimiso, however, feels that domestic matters now plaguing the world’s current
administration will not impact efforts to defend the planet itself.
“There is politics, and then there is practicality,” said Chimiso. “That is why worlds
like [Tsukude] possess an apolitical standing militia, rather than an amalgamation of
house security forces that bow to their individual masters. Whatever the outcome of
the current political crisis, we should be able to maintain planetary security should any
force invade.”
If convicted of the charges, both Jaranto and Tate could face prison time as well as
expulsion from the nobility.
Towne Log
+ Sex and the Not-So-Single Count: a new reality series coming soon to INN! What
do you think, eh? :- RepMan
+ Oh, this oughta be good! Jaranto and his buddy really stepped in it now! :- WetWillie
+ You can’t believe anything will come of this, can you, Willie? You’ve got the people
in the highest office on the planet being accused by their secretaries of misconduct. It’
s the word of a noble against the word of some commoners. Who do you REALLY
think is going to win? :- Synnik
+ Oh, brother! I can just see this coming: primetime tri-vid coverage, live via HPG, of
this lousy stinking travesty of justice. I hate when celebrities get in trouble, because
we all have to listen to it like it was some kind of reality series. :- GM01379
+ Even worse like this, GM. Because not only do we have to listen to it all, but also by
the time the public makes up its mind that the two are guilty--and right now, even
with as little as we’ve got, I’m guessing they are--the judge or magistrate or whatever
will find them innocent. A total waste of time and energy, if you ask me. :- Synnik
+ It’s official: We just got a glimpse of a planet in worse shape than our own. At least
our nobility can get along, more or less. I won’t be surprised at all if this time next
year Tsukude is either a Combine holding or just a totally anarchy. :- FMLurder
+ I wonder what would happen if they DO find Jaranto guilty, though. Do you think
he’ll just quietly step down and go to jail? :- Kurious
+ Hell, no, but I’m more interested in hearing what the Countess will have to say
about all this! Amazing nobody bothered to get her take on the whole thing, huh? :-
WetWillie
| April 19, 3133 |