The investigation has been completed in connection with the arrest of lawyer David G. Banes last March 9 for allegedly leaving the scene after hitting another car with his vehicle in Susupe, according to the Office of the Attorney General yesterday. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe case is active,\u201d said Chief Prosecutor John Bradley in response to Saipan Tribune\u2019s request for an update on the status of the investigation.<\/p>\n
The traffic docket was suspended for awhile due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bradley said, but Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja recently resumed setting and hearing traffic cases. \u201cWe hope to get all cases moving again as soon as possible,\u201d Bradley said.<\/p>\n
In Banes\u2019 case, Bradley said, they are awaiting the written report from the Department of Public Safety, which should arrive this week. He said the investigating officer was delayed by COVID-19 duties. \u201cOnce we have the completed report, we can review and decide on what formal charges, if any, will follow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
DPS did not release a press release about the incident. Sources at DPS disclosed that when the incident happened, Banes was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. Sources said Banes\u2019 vehicle hit a car on Beach Road in Susupe. Police officers allegedly pulled over the lawyer\u2019s vehicle by Joeten in Susupe. No one was injured in the accident.<\/p>\n
When previously asked about the allegations surrounding his arrest, Banes stated, \u201cNot true at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Banes is the court-appointed counsel for Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig. The jury trial of Mayor Atalig and his girlfriend, Evelyn Atalig, on corruption charges, was supposed to start last March 10, but U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona postponed it for a week at that time due to Banes\u2019 arrest. <\/p>\n
The court had postponed the trial several times due to various reasons. The trial is currently set for July 7, 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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