Ogumoro allowed to post property bond

Former Department of Public Safety deputy commissioner Ambrosio T. Ogumoro was allowed to post a $25,000 property bond, but Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed strict conditions in connection with his new criminal case.

At a bail modification hearing on Friday, Camacho found Ogumoro’s older brother, Fr. Isidro Ogumoro, and his older sister, Feliciana O. Dilley, suitable to serve as third-party custodians.

Attorney Janet H. King, counsel for Ogumoro, offered Fr. Ogumoro’s land in Kagman consisting of 31,144 square meters as property bond instead of the $25,000 cash that the court earlier imposed.

Camacho ordered the 57-year-old Ogumoro to surrender his passport, obey all laws, not contact his co-defendant, Herman M. Manglona, and other witnesses in the case, and stay away from airport.

The judge allowed Ogumoro to go to his bar, True North Bar & Grill in Garapan.

The judge also allowed Ogumoro to pick up the catch from his fishing boat but prohibited him from going to the water.

Arraignment will be on April 6 at 9am.

At the bail modification hearing, King said the court has the discretion to impose bail on a defendant and that it should consider the testimony of Ogumoro’s proposed third-party custodians.

King said Ogumoro is self-employed, runs a fishing boat, and manages True North Bar & Grill. She said her client should not be precluded from doing activities related to his business.

Chief Prosecutor Leonardo Rapadas said if the court allows Ogumoro to post a property bond, the government would recommend house arrest.

Rapadas said their concern is that they haven’t had a chance to look at the papers of the mortgaged property. He also mentioned about their concern of allowing Ogumoro to go to True North Bar & Grill, where one of the alleged crime incidents happened.

In allowing Ogumoro to go to the True North Bar & Grill, Camacho said he’s sure the alleged computer that belonged to DPS is no longer in the bar.

According to a police report, Ogumoro had a 1995 Toyota four-door Tercel that belonged to DPS repaired for $2,500 using DPS funds in 2012 and then sold the vehicle as “scrap” for only $50 to Herman Manglona.

Ogumoro and Katherine Manglona also allegedly instructed a DPS staff to bring a DPS desktop computer to a shop for repair using DPS funding in the amount of $276. The computer was allegedly later used in the office at True North Bar & Grill.

Police arrested Ogumoro and his 43-year-old girlfriend, former police officer Katherine Manglona, last Monday night, March 23, on Saipan. Herman Manglona, brother of Katherine Manglona, was arrested on Tinian last Tuesday.

Ogumoro was arrested for misconduct in public office, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, and removal of government property.

Katherine Manglona was arrested for theft by unlawful taking or disposition, and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking or disposition.

Herman Manglona, 45, was arrested for receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking or disposition.