Kara welcomes Demapan’s threat to sue

Acting Atty. General Maya Kara is unfazed by former Senate president Juan S. Demapan’s threat to sue her office, maintaining there were no irregularities in the AG-led raid on his gambling establishment.

“Mr. Demapan is welcomed to sue the AG’s office. It is the court which will decide whether or not he has any basis,” Kara said.

“I’d like to remind Mr. Demapan that casino is illegal on Saipan,” she added.

Demapan said Tuesday he was considering taking a court action against the AG in connection with the raid conducted last week by government agents on his business establishment.

Demapan alleged that the raid was illegal as the government team that swooped down on the establishment and arrested people did not have an arrest or seizure warrant.

Members of the AG’s white collar crime unit seized gambling paraphernalia and confiscated gamblers’ money during the raid conducted in the evening of Sept. 2. The establishment was shut down and eight persons were arrested.

Demapan said he had a license to operate a “lottery” business., and that his gaming business is licensed under his company, Just For Fun, Inc.

Describing the raiders’ action as “reckless,” Demapan said he will “go all the way to court to right the wrong.”

Kara said whatever gaming license Demapan claims to have would still not justify his casino operation.

“If you have a license to own a gun, it doesn’t mean that you’re licensed to kill. It’s the same way with gambling. I don’t know what license Mr. Demapan has but casino is illegal on Saipan,” Kara said.

Demapan’s gaming establishment was found allegedly conducting hi-lo and roulette, “neither one is lottery,” Kara said.

Casino gambling is legal only on Tinian. Rota residents will be asked to vote in November to decide if they want to legalize casino on their island.

There was a proposal several years ago to legalize casino on Saipan, but the voters rejected it through a referendum. There have been attempts in the Legislature to revive that proposal, but no formal action has been taken.

The government has intensified its campaign against illegal gambling. At least nine persons suspected to be operating and playing illegal gambling were recently charged in the Superior Court.

“I just want the public to know that we’re taking this issue seriously,” Kara said. (MCM)