FLASHBACK April 10, 2000-2002

Ex-Tinian mayor enters guilty plea[/B]

Former Tinian Mayor James Masga Mendiola on Friday pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in connection with cattle rustling in his island municipality just three days before a second jury trial was to resume on the case. He entered into a plea agreement with federal government prosecutors on a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to conceal goods within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. This carries lighter penalties than the felony offense contained in the indictment filed with the federal court in November, which was tried last February. The trial ended in hang jury after the jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

Saying he is disappointed but not surprised, Rep. Stanley T. Torres on Friday lambasted the decision by Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan not to pursue his charges of misconduct and improprieties against one of the judges. “It seems like judges and lawyers often protect each other and there’s very little other people can do about it,” he said in his letter to the SC chief, reacting to the decision. Justice Demapan last week cleared Associate Judge Timothy H. Bellas of the allegations in a complaint filed by the representative in November, noting that there was no sufficient evidence to conduct an investigation on the case.

Power shortage looms[/B]

Overall efforts by the CNMI government to lure more investors in the Northern Marianas could be in vain due to a looming power shortage caused by the virtually shelved 60 megawatt power plant project on Saipan. Government officials raised this alarm yesterday after reports claimed Enron has decided to pullout from the multi-million project which would have paved the road for a new 60-MW power plant on Saipan. Due to the possible delay in the construction of the power grid, foreign and local investors wishing to put up businesses here are faced with higher costs since they will have to put up their own power source.

The Northern Marianas Retirement Fund will launch an aggressive step to collect the Commonwealth government’s unpaid contributions that have ballooned to about $40 million. Fund Board Chair Vicente Camacho said the government’s continued refusal to settle its financial obligation has, in fact, resulted to multi-million revenue losses in several potential investments abroad. Mr. Camacho said this prompted NMIRF administration to demand immediate payment of the government’s unpaid obligations, in order to help the agency carry out its various programs and off-island investments.

Redrum suspect’s conviction upheld[/B]

The Supreme Court junked Monday an appeal seeking a reversal of Jesse James B. Camacho’s first degree murder conviction and 45-year jail sentence in the slaying of a Dandan boy last April 30, 1998—once dubbed as the Commonwealth’s most serious crime. The three-member appellate panel of Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan and Associate Justices John A. Mangloña and Alexandro C. Castro affirmed the trial court’s 1999 ruling that found that Camacho ordered his “Redrum” gang co-member to stab the victim with a knife. Last month, Camacho was ordered by Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman to serve three more years behind bars, after he was found guilty of bolting out of prison.

The Pacific Castle Park and Family Entertainment is working with the Office of the Public Lands for the acquisition of additional four hectares of land in Koblerville that would complete the construction of the multi-entertainment complex. Pacific Castle Park owner and operator Bob Starr yesterday disclosed that he will be infusing an estimated $20 million in fresh investments to complete the entertainment and recreational complex. Starr, who acquired the former Island Castle in November 2001, has conceptualized the project for the past seven years in hopes to provide the CNMI its own recreational facility that would not only lure the tourists to the island, but one that would allow local families to gather anytime they want.