Trial on bribery charges vs CUC’s Sablan begins

Jury trial on the bribery case against Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board member Benjamin A. Sablan begins today at the U.S. District Court.

U.S. Assistant Attorney Alan L. Lane will present 12 witnesses during the trial for the prosecution. On the other hand, the defense has lined up five witnesses on the case, including Philippine Sen. Ramon Revilla.

Mr. Sablan has been indicted before the federal court for allegedly receiving kickbacks amounting to $4,800 from a recruitment company in connection with the hiring of 12 Filipino contract workers for the utilities firm four years ago.

He pled not guilty to three counts of bribery during an arraignment yesterday morning. During the time the crime was allegedly committed, CUC and the CNMI government obtained more than $10,000 in federal grants.

Based on the complaint, Mr. Sablan demanded money from Ms. Elizabeth Castaneda, owner of EPC Recruiting Service, on three separate occasions in exchange for the hiring of workers through her recruitment company.

According to the complaint, Mr. Sablan corruptly solicited money from Ms. Castaneda as a reward for a business transaction involving the hiring Filipino contract workers on. Nov. 1, 1995 to Jan. 8, 1996.

On Dec. 17, 1996 to Jan. 2, 1997, Mr. Sablan asked for $1,000 from Ms. Castaneda and EPC in exchange for the contract of five workers with CUC. Again, on Jan. 24 to Jan. 27, 1997 Mr. Sablan demanded $1,400 from Ms. Castaneda to favor her company in the recruitment of seven nonresident workers.

Mr. Sablan was appointed to temporarily serve as member of the Board of Directors of CUC by former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio on Jan. 16, 1996. On Feb. 1, 1996, the former governor corrected his nomination eventually paving the way for Mr. Sablan to serve as a member of the board for a four-year term. His nomination was later on confirmed by the Senate on Feb. 16, 1996.

Mr. Sablan was elected chair of the CUC board on July 16, 1999 and was re-elected to the same post on about Sept. 5, 1997.

In April 1996 to June 1996, CUC obtained permits for the direct hiring of 12 Filipino contract workers with the assistance of Ms. Castaneda. The value of each nonresident worker’s contract amounted to more than $5,000.