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Kato seeks re-investigation
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Posted on Mar 22 2009
Since the Public Defender’s Office cannot represent him, Japanese businessman Hideo Kato said he has no choice but to represent himself in court in his fight against allegations of hosting illegal gambling on Saipan .
As this developed, the 72-year-old Kato appealed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Attorney General to re-investigate the case.
Kato told Saipan Tribune that during the March 11 status conference hearing, Superior Court associate judge Kenneth Govendo advised him to hire a lawyer because it is a complicated case.
“But I cannot afford to pay a lawyer anymore! I hope one lawyer on the island will help me for free, but until now no one [has done so],” he said.
Kato said the Japanese Consulate also cannot help him get a lawyer.
“Now, I’m the lawyer for myself. No one can say to me to shut up,” the businessman said.
After reviewing all the documents provided by the prosecution to his former lawyer, he said the reports contained “inconsistencies.” Kato wonders why he was not charged in federal court when illegal gambling is a federal offense.
“I hope that the Office of the Attorney General will conduct a re-investigation in this case. I am also very willing to see the FBI,” the businessman said.
Another status conference was set for April 16. The jury trial will be on Oct. 12, 2009.
Kato’s first lawyer, Antonio M. Atalig, is in jail for civil contempt. His second counsel, attorney Victorino Torres, withdrew as his lawyer.
He earlier said that there was never any intent to operate an illegal gambling joint as their goal was to put up a “charity casino” to help the poor people on Saipan pay their electric bills.
Kato spent eight days at the Department of Corrections after the Attorney General’s Investigative Unit raided an alleged illegal casino at the Victoria Hotel in western Garapan on Aug. 24, 2007.
The Attorney General’s Office charged Kato and businessman Byoong Seob Choi with 119 counts of illegal gambling activity and unlawful employment of aliens. Choi recently pleaded a “no contest” to two counts of unlawful employment of aliens. He was sentenced to three years of probation.
