Oust prison officials – inmates

Twenty inmates yesterday demanded the ouster of Division of Corrections Director Greg Castro and Capt. Johannes Ngiraibuuch as they warned the CNMI government of more escape if these prison officials were not removed from office.

In a petition addressed to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, which came a day after three escapees complained of poor prison conditions, they accused the two DOC officials of sowing discontent and threatening peace inside the facility. The inmates claimed Castro and Ngiraibuuch are not qualified to handle the corrections facility.

They said Ngiraibuuch’s position requires that he must possess good moral character, knowledge of the laws as well as the rules and regulations in running the jail.

Since 99 percent of the inmates are Chamorros and Carolinians, the petition noted that officials assigned in DOC should have the knowledge and understanding of the local culture to help them in carrying out their job.

Escapees Melvin N. Basa. Jeronimo S. Ada and Shawn Appleby wrote to the governor the other day complaining about the inhuman conditions in the corrections facility.

In a letter faxed to the Governor’s Office from Hopwood Junior High School Monday, the three complained about dirty bathroom and toilet, mosquito-infested rooms and lousy food. They also apologized for the Oct. 10 escape.

“The management is the problem here at DOC. We need people here who have experience on how to run this place,” the three said in a handwritten letter. They claimed that they were treated like animals in DOC.

Appleby, Ada and Basa said the cell where they are staying have holes and cracks everywhere. With the bathroom and toilet not properly maintained, their health condition is jeopardized.

Every single day, the three said they eat dry food–without fruits and milk. At the same time, prison officials have limited the use of telephone to one call a day for three minutes.

Appleby is serving a 40-year sentence for killing Korean businessman Byung Ok Suh in November 1996 after robbing the victim’s store, Chalan Market.

Ada and Basa are facing 37 counts of criminal charges, including kidnapping, assault and battery, robbery and illegal carrying of firearm in connection with a riot in Koblerville on July 11, 1999.