Man who pleaded guilty to bribery ordered to pay a fine
A man who previously pleaded guilty to bribery involving a Division of Fish and Wildlife employee was ordered to pay a fine Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo ordered Ji Jing Borja last week to pay a fine of $500 for his involvement in a bribery scheme with Fish and Wildlife employee, Marvin Rodney Pangelinan. In addition to the fine, Borja must pay a court fee of $25 by Feb. 22.
Borja previously pleaded guilty to offering, receiving and soliciting gifts or favors on Dec. 21, 2023.
Borja’s co-defendant, Pangelinan, was ordered to pay a $500 fine and a court cost of $25.
On July 13, 2023, Pangelinan pleaded guilty to charges of solicitation or receipt of money for advice or assistance.
According to court documents, Borja paid Pangelinan $100 so that Borja could run his business at the Grotto without proper documentation as required under CNMI law.
Borja operates and/or is employed by Blue Ocean Tinian Corp., the holder of a CNMI business license to operate as a scuba diving tour operator on Tinian.
However, court documents state that on Feb. 12, 2023, Blue Ocean or Borja did not have a business license to operate as a scuba diving tour operator on Saipan, nor did it, or Borja, possess a water sports permit issued by the CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality’s Division of Coastal Resources Management.
Despite not having either a valid business license or water sports permit, Borja brought a group of tourists to the Grotto to go scuba diving.
Kenneth Govendo
