Fitial counsel: Inos deserves no criticism
Attorney Stephen J. Nutting, counsel for former governor Benigno R. Fitial, said yesterday that Gov. Eloy S. Inos deserves no criticism in deciding to commute the one-year prison term for Fitial.
Nutting said it was obvious that Inos spent a great deal of time in considering and detailing the numerous factors which supported his decision.
“Certainly, the decision to commute the prison term that was imposed was a great relief to Mr. Fitial and his family and his numerous supporters,” said the lawyer in response to Saipan Tribune’s request for comment about the commutation.
Nutting said while a few have spoken out against Inos’ decision, he believes anyone who might read Inos’ decision with the smallest amount of objectivity, would be forced to conclude that the governor’s decision was very fair.
Nutting said Inos was able to balance the harm to the Commonwealth, against the harm to Fitial, as well as weighing the numerous accomplishments Fitial has done for the CNMI throughout his career.
“He has my utmost respect,” the lawyer said.
In a phone interview yesterday, Office of the Public Auditor legal counsel George Hasselback said he recommended to Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman a sentence what he saw was appropriate for Fitial.
Hasselback said Wiseman imposed a different sentence and Inos substituted his judgment for that of the judge.
Hasselback said Inos believes in his right to do the commutation of Fitial’s sentence.
“Beyond that I don’t have much to say,” said the OPA legal counsel who also serves as the special prosecutor in Fitial’s case.
At the sentencing hearing last June 24, Hasselback recommended to slap Fitial with a two-year imprisonment with no parole. Chief prosecutor Leonardo Rapadas recommended a sentence of more than a year in prison.
Wiseman sentenced the 69-year-old Fitial to one year in prison. The former governor was supposed to start serving the prison term yesterday, Monday, but Inos decided on Sunday for the commutation of the jail term.
Fitial signed a plea agreement with the government and pleaded guilty last May 13 to misconduct in public office and conspiracy to commit theft of services, making him the first governor of the CNMI convicted of crimes.
Balancing of harm, Fitial Vs. NMI, to strike commutation that has no legitimacy at all?
Chamorros dont know when to shut their mouth. Due process of law has taken its course. Please move on.
So it’s only the Chamorros running their mouths?
No one feed this troll. He lacks attention in his offline life. He is also bigoted.
Look at the blogs chelu….
And so what John? That’s what this blog section is for. A tool to be heard. MERICA! LOL!
But Inos deserves a whole lot of criticism. He was/is his long time friend and Lt. Governor. Despite Fitial’s plight, he deserve at least at minimum 1yr in prison. Inos decision to pardon jail time of Fitial to me exposes the very root of the cause/issues that plagues our CNMI Government. This thinking or decision making of Ahi ombre sa si Pari or si Mali, Ahi sa chumelu’ham, Ahi sa man’ primu/prima’ham has got to stop!
These comments are not blogs!
Stop with y’all nonsense of who is who is right or wrong as to the decision that was made. What is done is done and there are far more important issues/matters that needs to be address then this little bickering of Fitial and his one year sentence. Grow up people and move on!