Ex-convict nabbed for burglary, companion caught red-handed

An ex-convict was arrested for burglarizing an apartment in western Garapan. His companion was also later apprehended after police found him sleeping inside a car and was still holding one of the two stolen cellular phones, according to court documents.

Ex-convict George Chomoki, 37, was detained for burglary and theft. His co-defendant John Benjamin John was held for receiving stolen property.

During yesterday’s hearing, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo imposed a $10,000 cash bail on each defendant and set the preliminary hearing for Dec. 12.

Detective Simon T. Manacop, of the Department of Public Safety’s Thief Apprehension Select Coalition, said the stolen items were recovered and returned to the owner.

Manacop said that on Nov. 30 at 2:54am a man contacted DPS and reported a burglary at an apartment in western Garapan.

Police learned that the victim, Li Zhen Bin, was using the restroom when someone entered his apartment and stole from the shelf two cellphones and a bottle of perfume, all worth $165.

Li’s neighbor, however, told police that the man who broke into the room proceeded to a car parked by the Garapan Square. Another man was inside the car, the neighbor said.

One of the police officers later saw Chomoki walking towards Beach Road. The officer asked the victim and the witness to follow him in the patrol vehicle to identify Chomoki.

Chomoki was spotted standing on the sidewalk in front of Winchell’s Doughnut. The witness identified Chomoki as the one who entered Li’s room.

Police placed Chomoki under arrest at 3:07am that day.

At 3:40am on the same day, Police Officer Sandy Hambros spotted the second suspect’s car parked in front of Dynasty Poker in central Garapan.

The man in the car who was later identified as John was seen sleeping on the driver’s side with a cellphone in his hand.

When police brought Li to the location, he identified the cellphone as his. Upon police’s instruction, the victim dialed his stolen cellphone’s number.

John was awakened when the cellphone rang. Police placed him under arrest.

The other cellphone and the bottle of perfume were also found inside the car, police said.

In Sept. 2005, the Attorney General’s Office charged Chomoki for slapping a man and kicking a police officer on Aug. 14, 2005.

In April 2004, Chomoki was arrested for allegedly stabbing another person during their argument at MIHA housing in Garapan. The victim, Hespinar Sachou, 29, suffered a stabbing wound to the right leg.