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Suspected alien smugglers plead not guilty
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Posted on Jun 11 1999
Nine Chinese nationals who are facing federal offenses, including alien smuggling, pled not guilty to the charges during an indictment hearing yesterday at the US District Court.
Defendants Wen Qui Gou, Wen Shen Gou, Gou Ming Xiao, Jin Dian Xiao, He Kang Lin, Zhou Lian, Ming Sheng Lee, Nan Qi Wong and Jia Hui Lin appeared in court together with their appointed counsels and interpreter.
These individuals have been identified assisting in the operation of the Zhe Young Yu 7008, a fishing vessel, sometime in April with 152 other Chinese nationals on board. The boat sailed from Fujian province in China en route to Guam.
After authorities intercepted them near Guam, the boat was diverted to Tinian, where passengers were accommodated temporarily.
Following their plea of not guilty, Federal Court Judge Alex Munson scheduled three separate jury trials this August for the nine defendants.
They were charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. government, attempted alien smuggling for financial gain and entering a place other than the designated port.
During the indictment hearing, the counsel for Wen Shen Gou aired concern over his health. Gou earlier manifested symptoms of tuberculosis and was under medication while being held on Tinian.
According to Munson, his attending physicians had certified that it’s not contagious and he will be assured of further medial attention since the group will be flown to Guam as federal prisoners.
From their temporary detention on Tinian, the nine are now under the custody of the U.S. Marshal while awaiting for the trial scheduled for August.
