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The Boat People: Jury trial begins today
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Posted on Sep 13 1999
Five crewmen who allegedly manned a fishing vessel that smuggled undocumented aliens into a U.S. territory face a jury trial which begins today.
A 12-man jury will hear the case involving Shi Guo Rui, Gao Liang, Xue Jian Hui, Shi Peng, He Xiu Jin, who were charged with alien smuggling and conspiracy to smuggle aliens
They were found in a boat ferrying 51 aliens from China’s Fujian province which was intercepted by federal authorities near Guam last April.
Ten crewmen and engineers of this boat were originally charged with alien smuggling at the US District Court of Saipan. Three earlier pled guilty, while one of the defendants, found to be of minor age, has been placed under juvenile proceedings, according to a Tribune source.
Of the 51 aliens, six were detained as material witnesses for the government.
Today’s proceedings start at 9 a.m. with opening arguments from court-appointed attorneys who represent the defendants.
Sources said the government prosecutors will present 17 witnesses, including Coast Guard and FBI agents, INS investigators and the six aliens who have been detained as “material evidence” to the case.
“The defendants will have no witnesses on their side because the government has deported potential witnesses who could testify in their favor,” according to a defense attorney who asked not to be identified.
Tinian’s tent city, which was used as a holding facility for the undocumented aliens, was shut down last June 21. Most of its occupants were repatriated to China and some, after having been screened for potential asylum, were sent to the mainland US.
The five defendants earlier asked the federal court to dismiss their indictment saying that some of those repatriated were potential witnesses who could help their defense.
Federal Judge Alex Munson turned down their motion . saying the crew men had failed to convince the court that the repatriated aliens could actually provide testimonies favorable to their defense.
At the same time, Munson cited a US Supreme Court jurisprudence supporting the government’s decision to repatriate the undocumented aliens for “practical considerations.” (MCM)
