Park’s lawyer challenges misrepresentation charge

Saipan University founder Soon Kyung Park’s defense team belittled claims about SU’s “misrepresentation” in its promotional campaign in China last year during the continuation of trial yesterday.

“Does the brochure show a swimming pool? Can you see it? Can you see a tall building? Do you see a Saipan University name on the [other] building?” Park’s lead counsel, former associate Justice Pedro Atalig, asked a prosecution’s witness in federal court.

The witness, Li Yue, 22, answered no to the questions.

Li, a student recruit from Beijing, testified that Park falsely claimed that SU is equipped with facilities such as a computer room, a swimming pool, a golf course. She also said that Park told her that she would be studying her “Oriental Medicine IT” course in a “tall building.”

“But is there any tall building here? Do you consider this a tall building?” pressed Atalig, pointing to a court exhibit. On the golf course claim, Atalig asked, “ Do you know golf? Have you seen golf? Do you see [golf] flags here?” he asked.

Atalig further asked the witness about the brochure material, which he described as an artist’s rendition of SU.

Smith, however, moved to strike Atalig’s reference to the exhibit as an artist’s rendition, which the court approved.

The witness said that Park had told her that what she was seeing on the material was the same as the real SU.

Atalig then asked the witness about her meeting with Park in Beijing.

“How many were you in the room? How many chairs were there? Was the table round or rectangular?” asked Atalig.

The witness said they were using a rectangular table and there were six of them in the room, including she and Park as well as her uncle.

Li testified that she was attracted to SU’s offering of a four-year degree “Oriental Medicine IT.” “I really like to study this [oriental medicine],” she said.

During direct examination, Li, through an interpreter, said that Park told her that she would be studying in a tall building. “It’s a tall building where we learn medicine. He said students from Korea and Japan have enrolled and [are] studying there,” she said.

She said she planned to study on Saipan for four years and leave for the United States afterward.

Li testified that Park promised that while she is on Saipan, she would also be working as a tour guide. “I was also told that I’d be working in a hospital,” she added.

She said her family paid a total of $9,300 to Park for her enrollment at SU. “I was disappointed when I arrived,” she said.

Li was the prosecution’s third witness in the ongoing trial against Park.

The other day, two former SU students testified that Park “cheated” them. They said that they were promised a study and job program on Saipan.

SU has been closed and the students have been given a permit to seek temporary jobs pending the resolution of their case.