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IN ONGOING JURY TRIAL ON ROTA OF EX-ROTA OFFICIAL
Rapadas calls lead case investigator, 2 others
The prosecution called to the witness stand yesterday the lead case investigator and two other witnesses in the ongoing jury trial of former Rota Finance Procurement and Supply acting administrator Tilford S. Toves at the Superior Court on Rota.
Saipan Tribune learned that Chief Prosecutor Leonardo Rapadas presented as witnesses an employee of the Northern Marianas College and Department of Public Safety Rota police detective and case investigator Francis Manglona.
The prosecution’s last witness for the day was Saipan police officer Paul Ogumoro, who is assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
After Ogumoro completed his testimony at 6:30pm, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, who is presiding over the trial, sent home the jurors and ordered them to return to court today, Wednesday, at 8:15am, for the continuation of the proceedings.
The trial resumed yesterday despite the air-conditioning unit still not working.
Saipan Tribune learned that the jurors, court staff, Camacho, and the lawyers continued to suffer from the heat.
Assistant public defender Mathew Meyer is counsel for Toves.
The jury will decide as to the charge of conspiracy to commit trafficking of a controlled substance. Camacho will decide the charges of attempted illegal possession of a controlled substance, and illegal use of a government vehicle.
Police officers arrested Toves and then-Commonwealth Health Center administrative staff Berlinda C. Flawau in June 2014 for alleged “ice” trafficking on Rota.
Officers allegedly seized $1,000 worth of “ice” during the operation.
