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‘Suspect in killing of Palauan man flees NMI’
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Posted on Apr 01 2009
The principal suspect in the killing of a Palauan man who was attacked in San Jose last February has fled the CNMI.
A source from a law enforcement agency disclosed to Saipan Tribune yesterday that the suspect left the island a couple of days after the victim, Ligardo N. Omisong, passed away on March 6.
The source said the suspect used to be a member of a cultural dance group, which has been performing on Saipan.
Prior to the attack, the suspect was seen drinking with some teenagers. After punching Omisong, the suspect proceeded to a party and was heard bragging about assaulting a person, the same source added.
The source said there were five to six witnesses in this case.
Last month, then acting Department of Public Safety spokesperson Jason Tarkong said that they have good leads on the suspects in the murder of Omisong.
The NMI Crime Stoppers Program received tips about the suspects, said Tarkong, who is also coordinator for the Crime Stoppers Program.
Tarkong, however, stated he can’t release more information as detectives were actively pursuing leads.
He said the victim was also known as Ricardo Omisong.
The victim, sources said, was known for asking money from passersby and poker and store customers in San Jose.
According to a police report, the 44-year-old Omisong was found lying on his back on the main road in front of Leo Poker in San Jose early morning of Feb. 27.
Omisong was taken to the Commonwealth Health Center where he was in coma for major head injuries. On March 5 or six days after the attack, the victim passed away.
A witness told responding police officers that he heard screams from outside his home and when he checked, he saw the victim lying unresponsive on the roadway.
The witness saw two men running north.
The autopsy confirmed that Omisong was assaulted. Guam chief medical examiner Dr. Aurelio Espinola determined that based on the autopsy, the bruising on the left side of Omisong’s face was consistent with a hard blow or punch.
Espinola also established that the injury on the back of Omisong’s head was consistent with the victim falling on a hard surface.
