2 men arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting 1-year-old, 8-year-old girls

Two men were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting an 8-year-old and a 1-year-old girl in separate incidents on Saipan.

Gilbert Sablan Pinaula, 44, was arrested in Kagman for sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

Austin Jay Saures Kosam, 22, was arrested in Kannat Tabla for sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, and assault and battery.

Police Detective Catherine B. Pangelinan stated in her report that in Pinaula’s case, the 8-year old girl and her mother were both crying and shaking when they entered a police car that responded to assist them near Cool Laundry in Finasisu last June 29.

In Kosam’s case, Pangelinan said the 1-year-old girl was crying in pain as her private part was swollen.

At a hearing yesterday, noting prior criminal convictions, Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio increased to $30,000 cash bail from the original $25,000 cash bail imposed on Pinaula.

Kim-Tenorio maintained the $20,000 cash bail that the court earlier imposed on Kosam in issuing an arrest warrant.

Assistant public defender Cindy Nesbit was appointed as counsel for Pinaula and Kosam. Assistant attorney general Matthew Baisley appeared as counsel for the government.

Preliminary hearing for Pinaula will be on July 15 at 9am, while for Kosam will be on July 11 at 9am.

In Pinaula’s case, detective Pangelinan said a patrol car transported the 8-year-old girl and her mother to the Commonwealth Healthcare Center’s examination room last June 29.

Pangelinan said in the examination room, the mother was hugging her daughter, and both were crying.

Pangelinan said the mother disclosed that she noticed that her daughter was feeling sick and she knew something was wrong so she begged her to tell her what happened.

The detective said the daughter cried and confessed that Pinaula sexually assaulted her. The girl also disclosed that it was the second time that the defendant touched her private part.

In Kosam’s case, Pangelinan stated that a police officer responded to a residence in Kannat Tabla on Monday night after a woman reported that Kosam sexually assaulted her 1-year-old daughter.

Pangelinan said according to the mother, her baby complained of pain in her vaginal area.

When the mother checked the pampers, the baby started crying and stated that Kosam “touched” her.