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Yeom: CCC needs to monitor IPI’s auctioned gaming assets
Adds first auction may take place several weeks at the very least
Andrew Yeom
Commonwealth Casino Commission executive director Andrew Yeom said yesterday that Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) Inc.’s gaming assets that will be auctioned need to be documented by CCC to monitor where these items are going.
In response to Saipan Tribune’s inquiry, Yeom said movement of any and all IPI’s gaming assets are under CCC’s purview in this jurisdiction.
He said they require those documentation to track the gaming assets to make sure they don’t end up in the hands of the unlicensed or unauthorized persons or entities.
“To that end, the receiver is doing all it can to cooperate with us,” Yeom said.
Earlier last month, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona lifted the stay on the limited receivership that was previously granted against IPI and has ordered the appointed receiver, Clear Management, to proceed with its auctions of IPI’s assets starting Aug. 30, 2022, to satisfy a court judgment.
Yeom informed the CCC board last week that receiver Clear Management’s Tim Shepherd notified him last Aug. 19 that they are prepping up for the auction.
He said Shepherd inquired about any of CCC’s concerns and/or guidelines to comply for the auction.
Yeom said they responded to Shepherd in an email to identify CCC’s pressing concerns are, by pretty much itemizing all of the crucial elements that need to be documented in and around any sales, transactions of the IPI’s assets, specifically gaming assets.
The executive director said it is unfortunate that this receivership is happening before CCC’s eyes, but that they still have to make sure that the movement of these gaming assets are being tracked so that they do not end up in the wrong person’s hands.
Yeom said they also want to make sure that they remove all of the CCC tags and/or seals on the Electronic Gaming Machines and keep abreast of the latest inventories of IPI’s gaming assets.
Electronic Gaming Machines are also known as slot machines.
Yeom said their Information Technology manager Ian Morrell and Enforcement & Investigations/Permit & Licensing acting manager Thelma Mizer are in charge of managing and collaborating with the grounds crew from Clear Management to discuss all of the moves that will occur moving forward.
He said from his conversation with Shepherd, the first auction will take place several weeks at the very least.
Yeom said Shepherd will inform CCC once the date of auction becomes more apparent as they move along in their preparation and various arrangements.
