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Judge accepts motion to grant ‘use immunity’ to Atalig co-defendants
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Posted on Mar 11 2020
Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja has accepted the Office of the Attorney General’s motion to grant “use immunity” to four of seven co-defendants of Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig in the CNMI case.
Chief prosecutor John Bradley told Saipan Tribune Monday that Naraja approved their motion to “use immunity.”
“Use immunity” refers to protection given the witness from having their testimony used against them.
Bradley earlier stated that once the court approves the “use immunity” offer, witnesses can’t refuse to testify by invoking their constitutional privilege against self-incrimination.
The four co-defendants are Dean Manglona, Eusebio Manglona, Joseph Manglona, and Dennis Mendiola. They have not resolved their cases.
The remaining three co-defendants—Vanessa Charfauros, Magdalena Mesngon, and Dexter Apatang—have already disposed of their cases by plea agreement.
When asked about the OAG’s next step, Bradley said Monday they will monitor the federal trial of Efraim Atalig and his girlfriend, Evelyn Atalig, which will start soon.
He said they will also await the bench trial of Efraim Atalig and co-defendants in the CNMI case. The bench trial will be on March 20.
The Ataligs are being charged jointly with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft from program receiving federal funds, wire fraud, and theft from program receiving federal funds. Both are also charged separately with false statement.
