Construction firm owner bribed Manglona

Jesus S. Sablan, president of Sablan Construction Company Ltd. has admitted that he bribed former Tinian Mayor Herman Manglona in exchange for the award of contracts for the municipal government’s CIP projects.

Sablan, who is represented by lawyer Brien Sers Nicholas, pled guilty to bribery charges during a plea agreement at the U.S. District Court of Guam on May 26. The case has since been sealed until yesterday.

Asst. US Attorney Kevin Seely has moved to unseal the case as the investigation has been completed.

FBI investigation found that from January 1996 to December 1996, Sablan gave Manglona— who is now a senator— a total of $14,500. The money was handed over to the former municipal chief in six installments.

In exchange, Sablan was awarded contracts for federally funded projects, according to the government’s information.

Seely noted that the CNMI received an excess of $10,000 in CIP money during the fiscal year covered.

The plea agreement document indicated that some of Sablan’s relatives and associates were actually the ones who committed the bribery, but Sablan told investigators that they acted on his behalf.

Under the plea bargaining, Sablan agreed to cooperate with FBI and the US Attorneys’ Office by “truthfully and completely disclos[ing] all information related to the offense.”

The US Attorney’s Office, for its part, agreed that it would not prosecute Sablan’s relatives and associates identified as Pablito Amog, James Sablan, and Rita Sablan.

Sablan was charged with an offense punishable by a maximum of 10 years in jail and a fine of $250,000.

Seely, however, recommended that Sablan be given only a six months’ term. The sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

Tito Sablan, believed to be a brother of the construction firm’s president, pled guilty two weeks ago to the same charges involving exactly the same circumstances. He is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 30.

James King Manglona, an aide of Sen. Manglona pled guilty on Sept. 3 to charges that he tried to influence and intimidate a grand juror into voting against the indictment of his boss.

King Manglona admitted that he offered to “reward” a grand juror if she would vote “no” to the senator’s indictment.

The senator appeared for investigation at the federal court last week. Results of the investigation are not available to the public because it is sealed case. (MCM)