Jury selection in Roberto’s trial now on its 3rd day
The jury selection in the federal jury trial of former acting CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife director Raymond Borja Roberto enters its third day today, Wednesday.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona released prospective jurors yesterday at 4:30pm and ordered them to return for the resumption of jury selection at 9:30am today, Wednesday.
As this developed, Roberto’s defense team submitted in court yesterday additional exhibit list consisting of documents such as travel authorization from Saipan to American Samoa from March 7, 2013, to March 15, 2013, Roberto’s boarding passes, his United Mileage Plus statement, agenda of the 48th meeting of the Western Pacific Fisheries Information Network in American Samoa, copies of taxi fare receipt dated April 21 and 25, 2013, and others.
The defense is expected to show the documents as evidence that Roberto was off island when the alleged incidents happened.
The indictment alleged that Roberto persuaded three underage girls to have sex with him from March 1, 2013, to July 18, 2013. In the witness tampering case, it was alleged that while Roberto was detained pending trial, he attempted to influence the testimony of an individual on April 24, 2014.
Guam attorney David J. Lujan and Saipan attorney Joaquin Torres are representing Roberto as privately retained counsel. Also seated at the defendant’s table were two private investigators and Rep. Christopher Leon Guerrero, who used to operate a private investigation company.
U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and NMI Alicia A.G. Limtiaco and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami S. Badawy are prosecuting the case. Also seated at prosecution’s table were Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Haejun Park and legal assistants Marylynn Yamada-Sablan and Nicole Sablan.
Finally Mr. Roberto will have his day in court. The people of the CNMI will witness the blatant misconduct of the FBI in this case who tried so hard to pin something against Roberto. Attorneys Torres and Lujan will show to the court all the discrepancies and inconsistencies the FBI have been formulating to nail Roberto. I hear Agent Park has been relief from this case due to his unprofessional behavior toward a witness who has recanted his previous statement to Park by telling the truth. Yesterday’s remark by Attorney Torres is a preview of what are to unfold in this trial by submitting to the court Roberto’s documents proving he was in American Samoa for a Fishery Meeting at the date and time he is being accused of engaging with the minor subject. How can Roberto be having sex with the girls here on Saipan on the date he happened to be in American Samoa?? Something is totally wrong here and I look forward to the Prosecution’s explanation.
I see your point. The credibility of the so called victims are now in question. Not knowing the particulars of the case, that would be enough for me to doubt the victims accusations. As jurors, one holds a great obligation to keep an open mind and base judgment on the evidence presented. At this point in the trial according to the law, the first step ALL jurors must declare is that the defendant is INNOCENT! By law, he doesn’t have to present any evidence, he need not testify – HE IS INNOCENT! The onus is on the US Government, they must present evidence of the accused’s guilty BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT!