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No verdict yet on Cabrera case
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Posted on Oct 25 2000
Jurors deliberating the corruption case of former Finance Sec. Antonio R. Cabrera have yet to reach a unanimous verdict, a day after both the prosecution and the defense concluded the high-profile trial in the U.S. District Court.
The jury is expected to resume its deliberation this morning after a whole-day discussion yesterday in the federal court, according to the lawyers.
Mr. Cabrera, 40, could face up to 10 years imprisonment for each of the five counts of theft and bribery contained in his indictment if convicted. He is free on bail of $50,000 cash bond.
During the three-day trial, federal prosecutors produced numerous documents and testimonies from witnesses to bolster it case against the ex-Cabinet official.
Defense lawyer Joey A. Arriola, on the other hand, argued the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that his client is guilty of the crime alleged by the federal government.
Based on the indictment, Mr. Cabrera was accused of embezzling, stealing or obtaining by fraud over $56,000 from programs receiving federal funds while he was the finance chief during the administration of former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio.
He was also alleged to have accepted at least $3,000 as bribe money from Candido Castro, owner and operator of land surveying firm Castro and Associates, in exchange for a CNMI government transaction involving $30,621.25 in public funds.
The criminal charges came barely six months after the CNMI government filed a civil case in the local court against Mr. Cabrera for allegedly misusing and misappropriating public funds amounting to $74,307.59.
The suit, still pending with the Superior Court, accused him of passing on his personal expenses, including luxury items and even donuts, to the government based on the investigation by the Office of Public Auditor.
Mr. Cabrera was secretary of the Department of Finance from June 1995 up until his resignation in August 1997 due to reported falling out with then-Gov. Tenorio. He received a salary of $54,000 per year during his tenure in office.
