Orders for BMV, Procurement to show cause dismissed

Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman has dismissed his order requiring the Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles and CNMI Procurement and Supply to explain why they did not comply with a court order in connection with the corruption charges against former Department of Public Safety deputy commissioner Ambrosio T. Ogumoro.

Wiseman said his review of the parties’ submissions show that BMV should not be held in contempt for not complying with the order. With respect to Procurement and Supply, Wiseman dismissed his order to show cause, there being no objections to the issue at the hearing last Nov. 23.

In separate orders last Nov.19, Wiseman ordered BMV and Procurement and Supply to appear at the Nov. 23 hearing. The judge ordered the agencies to comply with Ogumoro’s subpoenas for some documents on or before Nov. 18.

Ogumoro later told the court that the two agencies had yet to comply with his request for records.

At the Nov. 23 hearing, assistant attorney general Matthew C. Baisley appeared for the government and BMV. Assistant attorney general David Lochabay appeared as counsel for Procurement and Supply, while attorney Mark B. Hanson appeared for Ogumoro.

While Wiseman dismissed the order to show cause at the Nov. 23 hearing, BMV was directed to submit an affidavit whether it had the ability to comply with the court’s order with respect to Ogumoro’s subpoena.

The following day, BMV submitted a brief and attached a sworn affidavit from BMV director Juana Leon Guerrero, addressing the issue. Ogumoro objected to BMV’s submission.

The jury trial of Ogumoro and co-defendant Herman Manglona will commence on Monday. The 57-year-old Ogumoro is charged with eight counts relating to theft by deception, misconduct in public office, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, removal of government property, and theft by unlawful taking.

Manglona is charged with conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property.

According to the allegations, Ogumoro brought a 1995 Toyota Tercel owned by DPS to a shop to be repaired using DPS funds totaling $2,500 and then sold the vehicle as “scrap” for only $50 to Manglona.

Ogumoro also allegedly instructed a DPS staff to bring a DPS desktop computer to a shop for repair. The computer was allegedly later used in the office at True North Bar & Grill, which is owned by Ogumoro.