Club Micronesia owner acquitted

The Superior Court yesterday acquitted a businessman and his nightclub on charges that they employed illegal aliens and exploited at least one minor who worked as exotic dancer.

Associate judge Ramona Manglona discharged 33-year-old Takayuki Umeda and Japan Enterprises Corp., which does business as Club Micronesia, from any liability.

A jury handed down an all-not guilty verdict on 18 charges each against Umeda and the nightclub. The court earlier dismissed two counts of unlawful exploitation against Umeda and the nightclub.

The charges against Umeda and his company included employment of an illegal alien, harboring of an illegal alien, immigration fraud, solicitation, conspiracy, and aiding, abetting and encouraging illegal entry.

Assistant attorney general Eric O’Malley earlier alleged that the nightclub employed at least one underaged girl from June to July 2004 and let her “engage in prohibited conduct.” The prosecutor said the defendants facilitated the girl’s entry from Manila, the Philippines to Saipan through forged documents. He accused the defendants of harboring the girl despite knowing that she was staying in the Commonwealth illegally.

O’Malley had also said the defendants knowingly subscribed as true a false statement in applying for the girl’s nonresident worker’s permit. He said the defendants made the girl subscribe as true alleged false statements on these documents. The charges also pertained to Club Micronesia’s alleged unlawful employment of two other workers from June to July last year.

After the jury handed down its verdict yesterday, O’Malley and assistant attorney general Rebecca Warfield expressed respect for the jurors’ decision.

“The people of the Commonwealth spoke,” said Warfield, adding that the prosecution put up a good legal battle. She said the AGO would study the options regarding the underaged girl’s fate, particularly if she would be sent back to the Philippines or not.

Former Superior Court judge Timothy Bellas represented the defendants as legal counsel. Bellas defended the businessman and his business, which he said has been in the CNMI since 1989.

Bellas also defended the business’ recruitment process in the CNMI and in the Philippines, saying that it has been receiving legal advice here and in the Asian country.

“The Philippines is very serious on those issues [illegal recruitment],” Bellas said.