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Nutting: Fitial fully apologetic to the public, remorseful
‘Fine, fees, restitution absolutely to be paid’
Convicted former governor Benigno R. Fitial is fully apologetic to the public and is fully remorseful, according to his counsel, Stephen Nutting.
Asked by Saipan Tribune on Friday pertaining to Office of the Public Auditor legal counsel George Hasselback and other critics’ statements that Fitial did not apologize to the people for his crimes, Nutting said he believes the 69-year-old Fitial apologized to the people of the CNMI for his crimes.
“He apologized to the court, and everyone else,” Nutting said.
Fitial was set to leave the CNMI either last Saturday or yesterday if the flights were available for the Philippines.
Nutting said Fitial’s health has been on a “decline” because he has not been able to receive treatment in the Philippines for last few weeks so he is anxious to get back to Manila and return to his normal routine treatment.
Regarding court-ordered payments for $6,000 fine and $100 court assessment fees, Nutting said the former governor will absolutely pay the amount before the hearing.
On the restitution matter, the lawyer said they are anxious to see what the government comes up with and what will be the necessary amount to pay,” he said.
Judge David A. Wiseman sentenced Fitial to one year in prison. The former governor was supposed to start serving the prison term last July 6, but Gov. Eloy S. Inos decided 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.
Last July 6, Wiseman issued an order directing the government to file its claim for restitution against Fitial on or before Sept. 10, 2015.
In a post-sentencing order, Wiseman said any objection to the government’s claim for restitution shall be filed within 10 days thereafter.
Pursuant to the sentence and commitment order issued June 26, 2015, Fitial was required to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later time.
The judge further ordered a status conference for Aug. 12, 2015 at 1:30pm to determine the status and/or plan for payment of the $6,000 fine and the $100 court assessment fee.
Wiseman said if the fine and assessment fee are paid prior to Aug. 12, the matter will be taken off calendar.
