$500K civil suit filed against 2 Koreans

A Chinese national yesterday filed a $500,000 civil suit before the Superior Court against Hwang Keum Ja and Yoo Jung Ki for allegedly holding her hostage and forcing her to sign a document transferring her leasehold interest to a property in Chalan Laulau to the two Korean nationals.

The complaint filed by Shen Shun AI through lawyer Joseph Aldan Arriola asked the court to declare null and void the lease agreement. Another woman was included in the complaint but her identity is still unknown.

According to the complaint, Ms. AI was picked up by an unidentified woman on or about Feb. 21, 1999 at her living quarters to accompany her to Koblerville where they picked up Ms. Ja. They all proceeded to BJ Garden Restaurant located in Garapan.

While on their way to the restaurant, Ms. Ja already assaulted Ms. AI by pulling her hair. Ms. AI attempted to escape upon arriving at the restaurant but Ms. Ja grabbed her and the unidentified woman.

Afterwards, Ms. AI was taken to the barracks located directly behind BJ Garden where she was held hostage and forced to sign a document transferring her leasehold interest. Ms. AI and Jeong Byeong Yeol are lessees to the property owned by Concepcion M. Rangamar.

During that time, Ms. AI claimed that she was threatened by Ms. Ja that she would have her deported to China if she will not sign the document. The defendants guarded her when she went to the restroom. Ms. AI said the defendants even attempted to bribe her into signing the document by offering her a certain amount of money.

The following day at around 1:00 p.m., Ms. Rangamar arrived at BJ Garden Restaurant with a prepared document for assignment of lease which the defendants forced Ms. AI to sign.

Ms. AI begged to Ms. Rangamar for help in Chinese, a language which Ms. Rangamar could not understand. Feeling helpless, Ms. AI eventually signed the document against her will.

Immediately after signing of the document, she was brought back to her leasehold property in Chalan Laulau and was ordered to remove her personal belongings.

Later on, Ms. AI found out that the leasehold on the property has been assigned to Mr. Ki, owner of New Olympia Enterprises and J.R. Auto Repair Shop. Mr. Ki has been has been informed about the illegal transfer which the lease was taken from Ms. AI and was told to give the rental payments to her since she is the lawful landlord but has refused to do so.

A statement issued by Ms. Rangamar said she noticed that during the meeting at BJ Garden Restaurant, Ms. AI was intimidated and coerced to approve the agreement. (LFR)