Govendo slaps notorious burglar with 1-year term

Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo imposed yesterday a one-year prison sentence on an ex-convict who burglarized an establishment in Garapan and stole a handbag containing cash and other items.

Govendo sentenced Alfred Aldan Obak to three years in prison, all suspended except for one year, with credit for the two days he had already served in jail.

“Mr. Obak, your criminal career is now officially over,” said the judge. The defendant was convicted of burglary and theft.

Govendor also ordered that Obak be placed on two years probation and be required to pay $500 fine.

Obak, 29, a Palauan, was directed to pay $15 in restitution to the victim and perform 100 hours of community work service. He was ordered to pay $100 in court assessment fee plus probation fee.

Govendo said the defendant shall continue counseling for alcohol abuse and commanded him to start serving the prison term on Monday at the Department of Corrections.

Govendo asked Obak to find a job and stop burglarizing establishments.

“I hope I won’t see you again in court. It’s time to grow up,” the judge told the ex-convict.

The Attorney General’s Office charged Obak with burglary and theft. He pleaded guilty to the charges on Jan. 31, 2006.

Court documents stated that on March 13, 2005, the defendant entered Happy Noni House in Garapan and stole Me Aa Jeon’s bag containing a wallet, identification card, $15 cash, and other items.

Police said that, while they were interrogating Obak in connection with a burglary incident at a poker arcade, the defendant disclosed that he was responsible for the break-in at Happy Noni House.

Obak said he was drinking with some friends at the Fishing Base in Garapan and was on his way home when he decided to break into the establishment. He confessed to taking the handbag, then throwing it to a grassy lot after taking the $15 cash.

Police later recovered the handbag and all its items, except for the $15 cash.

In August 2005, Obak was convicted of assault and battery and disturbing the peace after he beat up a man who had greeted him and his friend “Merry Christmas” on Dec. 25, 2004, at Upper Miha housing in Garapan.

Govendo sentenced him to one year in prison, all suspended except for three days, with credit for the three days he had already served, plus probation, $500 fine and other fees.

The Saipan Tribune learned that Obak has an outstanding arrest warrant in the Republic of Palau and had numerous prior convictions, mostly on burglary charges in that country.

In 2003, the Palau Office of the Attorney General charged Obak with burglary and cheating. He left Palau in September 2003 without informing the court, prompting the court to issue an arrest warrant.

In 1998, the Palau Supreme Court convicted the defendant of burglary and subsequently sentenced him to two years in prison.

In 1997, the Palau Supreme Court convicted him of two counts of burglary and two counts of grand larceny. In 1996, the Palau Supreme Court convicted him of burglary and grand larceny.

When he was a juvenile, Obak was also convicted of petit larceny, the Saipan Tribune was told.

Obak apparently admitted to probation officers that he does “stupid things” when he is intoxicated. He has many tattoos on the body, including the words “Don’t Be A Hero” and “Piss Off” on the upper left arm.