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Businessman in gambling raps seeks payment from gov’t
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Posted on Feb 16 2000
Businessman Cheung Ping Yin has asked the CNMI government and five other key officials to pay for his litigation costs and attorney’s fee amounting to $33,199.20 in connection with the gambling case filed against him last year.
Mr. Yin, who is represented by legal counsel Joseph A. Arriola, is seeking payment from Deputy Attorney General Maya B. Kara, Public Safety Commissioner Charles Ingram Jr., Assistant Attorney General Marvin J. Williams, Chief Investigator Phil Goodwin, and Police Officer Paul Ogumoro.
Mr. Arriola submitted a detailed statement of fees and costs that the defendants must pay covering the period of Sept. 13, 1999 to Dec. 20, 1999.
The demand for payment was made by Mr. Yin after he and his business partner Juan S. Demapan won in a civil suit questioning the appointment of Ms. Kara, who was then acting attorney general after the AGO conducted a raid in their lottery game business at East Ocean in Garapan.
Judge Pro Tem Joaquin V.E. Manibusan Jr. has earlier ordered Ms. Kara to step down and relinquish her post because her continued stay in office was in violation of the CNMI Constitution.
The court said it would schedule a hearing should both parties fail to reach an agreement on the fees and costs that should be settled.
In his decision, Judge Manibusan emphasized that the governor has no authority to appoint an acting attorney general. However, Mr. Tenorio may appoint a nominee to the position of the Attorney General who shall either be confirmed or rejected by the Senate within the allotted period of time.
The former governor has appointed Ms. Kara to the position on July 2, 1998, but her nomination was rejected by the Senate.
