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Karaoke operator to be arraigned today on sex trafficking charges
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Posted on Jun 14 2012
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
The scheduled arraignment of a karaoke operator who was arrested for alleged sex trafficking did not push through on Tuesday as she still has no lawyer.
Chang Ru Meng Backman, 39, told the court that she has already spoken to an attorney, who instructed her to inform the court that he was being retained as counsel for her.
Assistant U.S. attorney Rami Badawy asked the court to postpone the hearing so they can contact the lawyer.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona set the arraignment today, June 14, at 10am and remanded Backman to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.
The indictment charged Backman with three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and three counts of alien smuggling-harboring.
According to the indictment, Backman operated the Holiday Night Club, a karaoke bar in Chalan Kanoa that allegedly provided sexual services for an added fee. Backman allegedly received money from club customers for sexual services performed by women at her direction.
