FROM THE COURT Drug dealer gets 10 years

A man convicted of drug charges was sent yesterday to 10 years and one month in federal prison.

Daniel A. Atalig was convicted of conspiracy to distribute crystal metamphetamine, commonly known as “ice,” last April.

Parole has not available in the federal system since 1987, but US District Atty. Greg Baka said Atalig may be eligible for 54 days good time credit for a year.

Which means that “in 10 years he can get 500 days credit,” Baka said.

Atalig was among the five persons charged in the federal court in connection with the importation of 20 grams of ice from the Philippines in April 1998.

The drug shipment was intercepted by the Drug Enforcement Administration at the DHL Office in Chalan Laulau. The substance was hidden in a paid of sandals.

Also charged in the case were Felix Remoket, Rizalinda Remoket, Johnny Remoket, and Jacqueline Remoket.

They were charged with one count of conspiracy to import “ice; conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute.

The four had entered into a plea agreement with the US government, and served as witnesses against Atalig.

Atalig was acquitted of conspiracy to import ice after a jury trial last December. The jurors did not reach a verdict on the two other charges, prompting Federal Court Judge Alex Munson to rule a mistrial.

However, another trial held earlier this year found Atalig guilty as charged. (MCM)

Public defender declines
to represent Palacios

Citing conflict of interest, the Public Defender’s Office has refused to represent a police officer charged with disturbing the peace and misconduct in public office.

The Public Defender’s Office was earlier appointed by the Superior Court to represent Troy Palacios, who was charged by the Attorney General’s Office based on the complaint of a Garapan resident, Helen Z. Horimoto, who said that the police officer “deprived her of her right to peace” when he shot his gun in the air on New year’s eve.

In declining the case, Public Defender Masood Karimipour pointed out that Palacios, being the arresting of an alleged traffic violator, would be an “adverse” witness in the traffic case being handled by his office.

Karimipour asked the court to appoint another counsel to represent Palacios. (MCM)