Suit Filed Against Vice Speaker Benavente by Rafael H
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
¿Marianas arietis Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 “■*- Vol. 20 N0.20 Saipan, MP 96950 ©1991 Marianas Variety May 24, 1991 Serving CNMI for 20 Years Mendiola arraigned, gets high bail by Teri M. Flores san and Brian Nicholas a day that upon the issuance of the ar no knowledge if Mendiola was set in cash while the rest of the after he surrendered himself to rest warrant, 16 members of the on Saipan or Tinian on the day amount will be on a real estate A Tinian man suspected of Tinian police. Tinian police force were placed the warrant was issued. mortgage as arranged byn his smuggling $2.1 million worth Mendiola appeared at the on a 24-hour alert to try and Despite the government’s counsel. of methamphetamine is out on Tinian police station with Ni locate Mendiola. motion to increase Mendiola’s Mendiola was also ordered to $500,000 bail after he was ar cholas at about 2:21 p.m. In his testimony, Kiyoshi said bail, Judge Alex Castro decided surrender his travel documents raigned in Superior Court Monday morning, five days af that thepolice were unsuccessful to release Mendiola provided and not to leave Tinian without Tuesday morning. ter Judge Marty Taylor issued a in their search for Mendiola as that he pay 10% of the total bail Continued on page 37 Francisco Barcinas Mendiola warrant of arrest for him. no one could provide any infor appeared in court with his Tinian Department of Public mation as to his whereabouts. counsels attorneys Ed Manibu- Safety head Tony Kiyoshi said Kiyoshi also said that he has Suit filed against Vice Speaker Benavente by Rafael H. Arroyo note and mortgage; theft and range conditional land sales conversion; and false pre agreements to specific parcels Vice Speaker Luis tenses and/or embezzlement. of leasehold lands in behalf of Benavente faces what may The said chaises appar KKN. shape up to be the toughest ently stemmed from It was alleged that Benavente threat to his career as busi Bcnavente's alleged inabil reneged on his fiduciary obliga nessman and lawmaker after ity to abide with an agency tions by failing to inform and a Japanese firm, Kabushiki agreement he had with the advise KKN of his activities Kaisha Nikkei (KKN) recently said Japanese firm. Continued on page 37 Suspected drug smuggler Francisco B. Mendiola (center) being led filed crim mal charges ranging According to court to the courtroom alongside his counsel, Brian Nicholas (right). from breach to embezzlement records, KKN alleged that against the solon. Benavente occupied a posi In a complaint filed before tion of agency, trust, and the Superior Court of CNMI, confidence of the firm with UMDA proposes to KKN alleged that Benavente regards to its leasehold committed unlawful acts that property acquisition plans in prejudiced the interests of the the Marianas. develop landfill, golf company. Moreover, KKN claimed by Ronel B. Concepcion projected golf resorL..”our pro Benavente is accused with that they had an agreement posal will include a provision to one count each of breach of and understanding that The United Micronesia De agency and fiduciary duty; fund and manage the landfil site Benavente was to assume an velopment Association, Inc. breach of prom issory note and in Marpi.” obligation to acquire agree (UMDA) has recently proposed foreclosure on mortgage, re “We have budgeted $8.5 mil ments to lease, with options to develop and manage the lion to prepare the site and operate scission of agency agreement, to purchase, as well as ar Vieÿ-Spëèkër Luís Éenavénm sanitary landfill in Marpi, as they the landfill,” the UMDA letter plan to soon construct a golf re stressed. sort in the area. It further said that they will On one hand, various govern also contribute 5 percent of the ment agencies are now in the net profit coming from the sale Tinian Casino Commission process of designing the new of residences within the project landfill in the Depression site to to a uust fund. replace the existing Puerto Rico Waechter said interest that adopts applicants regulations Dump. would be earned from this fund In a letter to Governor Larry I. can be used in various needs such Tinian Casino Gaming Con- casino licenses. required to file for licensure Guerrero, UMDA Chairman Jo as infrastructure, parks, educa trol Commission Chairman John It mentioned that the regula in addition to the corporate seph Waechter said that they are tion, and other needs. Hofschneidcr announced tions specify, for example, that applicant. currently in preparation of a “This community benefit, Thursday that they have adopted financial sources of each hotel The commission’s chair proposal that would involve the along with the landfill element the regulations governing casino projecty will be required to be man further noted that “the establishment of a golf resort in of our proposal would amount to applications, according to a re licensed. adoption of these rcgualtions Marpi. a contribution of more than $ 17.2 lease from their office. Hofschneidcr further said in is an important aspect of It cited that the application- million to the CNMI over the The regulations are scheduled the release that financial sources creating a viable casino proposal to the project will be next ten years,” it said. to be published in the Common of each applicant is one aspect of gaming industry in Tinian.” submitted to the Marianas Pub According to Waechter, wealth Register in its June issue the regulatory process that is The Commission will also lic Land Corporation on May 15. UMDA have already assured $1 to afford the public an opportu crucial. t, begin to consider the specific Knowing that the landfill will million “in escrow” which will nity to comment on these It will assure that only le license applications once the be constructed near their devel be used to provide for the proposals before they are finally gitimate sources of funds will corporate and financial in opment site, UMDA “would like landfill’s need in Marpi. adopted by the commission. be utilized to construct and vestigations are completed. to help...”, since it will definitely The letter mentioned that they The release said that the regu finance the casino hotels, he According to the affect their operations in the near are committed to work with the lations clarify the nature and said in the release. commission’s revised chro future. govemmenL..”the timehas come scope of the regulatory process Moreover, the release also nology in the issuance of Waechter informed the Gov. for a locally-owned resort...” and address critical issues as who mentioned that corporate licenses, the licensure hear that aside from the land lease Lt. Governor Benjamin must apply and qualify for board members and each cor ings are scheduled to payments to MPLC and tax rev Manglona, who was earlier di- licensure in conjunction with porate officer would also be commence in June this year. enues that will result from their Continued on page 36 P é le , 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VTEWS-FRIDAY-MAY 24,1991 FRIDAY, MAY 2 4 ,1991-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 p A f S ■ ■ WM A Meeting Place For Our 902 and 702 talks to continue, M anglona ■ U M · U I f l Opinions. ., And Yours.Yours, .. “We will continue on would not call for another round kind of authority given to him lieve in the US Justice system, On the other hand, Manglona with the 902 talks even if of meeting until the CNMI team by the president but does not want the court to said that they will still go ahead it takes us a lifetime...” have assessed what went wrong Manglona said that they even decide on several issues that can and pursue the requested fund during the many years of discus urged Glidden to inform the be ironed out through the 902 ing of $500 million for the next Lt. Governor Benjamin T. sions. president that the 902 talks has talks. seven-years under the 702 dis Manglona He mentioned that together to have a permanent US repre cussion. Jr’s Agenda with the Governor, the CNMI sentative, somebody who is not The anticipated third meeting by John DelRosario, Jr. by Ronel B. Concepcion team will meet on June 27 to take from the Department of Interior. would be by the third week of s v. ■> / M aW v I'M v*·*t * CNMI Delegate head to both the matter When asked regarding OTIA June either in Honolulu or in 902 and 702 talks- Lt. Governor seriously...”brainstorm among Assistant Secretary Stella San Francisco...”hoping to fi Benjamin Manglona expressed ourselves to come up with a base Guerra’s earlier hint that a per nally come up with an agree One has to admire Kevin who or what was said. Thatisn’t We support more that its people and leadership are upon arrival from Washington answer to know how to approach manent rep. was already ap ment of how much can we get.” Kerrigan’s tenacity in defending at issue here. It is whether or not corrupt. Well, we will award that eventhough they were dis future negotiations.” pointed, heremarked...”that was The Lt. Governor was also a documentary that did nothing they have taken positive action you the Tom Brown Award for appointed with the tenth round According to Manglona, he our understanding.” asked regarding Guerra’s con but purposely and conveniently to rectify the situation given the cultural activities Parachute Journalism. And we of the 902, it is still best to con also had the feeling that the 902 “But Mr.