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Fitial pays $6K fine, $100 court assessment fee
Remaining issue is restitution
Former governor Benigno R. Fitial paid yesterday the $6,000 fine and $100 court assessment fee that the Superior Court imposed on him in his criminal conviction.
Fitial, through counsel Stephen Nutting, handed the payment to the clerk’s office of the Superior Court.
In an order yesterday, Associate Judge David A. Wiseman acknowledged the former governor’s payment and canceled the status conference set for today, Wednesday, at 9am.
The status conference was intended to determine how Fitial would pay the fine and court assessment fee. It was originally scheduled last Wednesday, Aug. 12, but was continued after no one appeared for the CNMI government.
Office of the Public Auditor legal counsel George Hasselback, who serves as special prosecutor in the case, told Saipan Tribune Monday that there was no indication that the court would open at that time due to the lack of power and water supply.
With the fine and court assessment fee matters resolved, the remaining issue is restitution.
Last July 6, Wiseman directed the CNMI government to file its claim for restitution against Fitial on or before Sept. 10, 2015.
Pursuant to the sentence and commitment order on June 26, 2015, Fitial was required to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.
As of yesterday, the government has yet to file its restitution claim.
Fitial pleaded guilty last May 13 to misconduct in public office and conspiracy to commit theft of services as part of a plea agreement.
Wiseman slapped Fitial with a one-year prison term, but Gov. Eloy S. Inos commuted the jail term.
