NEWS BRIEFS

21 months for
illegal recruiter

A man found to have scammed 40 Chinese workers was sentenced yesterday to spend 21 months in federal prison.

District Court Judge Alex Munson sentenced Bin Ru Chen who was found guilty of several counts of federal charges last April.

Bin, president of the CWM Construction Co., was charged with five counts of fraudulently obtaining and possessing identification documents, and conspiracy to commit mail fraud with fraudulent ID cards affecting foreign commerce.

A 12-man jury found that Bin had promised his recruits high pay after charging them exorbitant recruitment fees.

A separate investigation conducted by the US Department of Labor concluded that Bin owed his recruits approximately $60,000 in payment for work they performed.

Some of the workers did not find jobs at all. (MCM)

New laws grants PSS
flexibility to use MHS funds

Acting Gov. Jesus R. Sablan yesterday signed into law a bill that would allow the Public School System more flexibility in spending $450,000 for Marianas High School.

Under Public Law 11-90, PSS can use the money to repair MHS roof, acquire air conditioners and carry out rewiring of the electrical system.

At the same time, Sablan vetoed a bill which would allow new homesteaders ample time to comply with all conditions prior to being granted the deed of conveyance.

In disapproving HB 11-401, Sablan noted that the findings and intent of the bill are commendable. However, the language in the proposed measure appears to be inconsistent with its stated purpose.

While the bill provides that homesteaders should be allowed more time to build their homes, especially in light of the difficult economic times, it also mandates revocation of the permit just after four years.

Currently, the law allows the Division of Public Land to grant extensions even beyond to homestead permit holders at its discretion. But Sablan said DPL has been exercising such discretion by granting extensions exceeding four years when homesteaders have shown efforts to improve their plots and the need for extension.

HB 11-401, if approved, would remove such discretion and mandate revocation after four years.

Amid the current economic difficulties, the Legislature said there has been countless revocations of homestead lots granted to new applicants due to delay in developing their lots.