Jury acquits Sablan

Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Board Director Benjamin M. Sablan was acquitted by 12 jurors on all three bribery charges filed against him before the U.S. District Court involving a project partly funded by the federal government more than four years ago.

Dozens of his friends and family packed the courtroom in Horiguchi Building when the jury read its verdict after two days of deliberating on testimonies and evidences presented at the trial.

They hugged and shook hands with Mr. Sablan who was visibly moved by the acquittal. His lawyers had earlier expressed confidence at the closing arguments that there was no case against the CUC official.

Mr. Sablan, who had appeared in the court clad in business suit since the jury trial began last Tuesday, credited his defense team and the support provided by his family and friends.

“I am glad that it came to an end and my name has been cleared. I would like to thank members of the jury for looking at the case carefully,” the teary-eyed board director told reporters in an interview.

“I am pleased with the verdict. I was always sure in myself that I never did anything wrong. I am elated by the decision. . . Now I can stand up straight again,” added Mr. Sablan.

U.S. Assistant Attorney Alan L. Lane expressed disappointment over the verdict, but declined to comment on the prosecution’s failure to convict the accused in the bribery case.

“We have to live with it and respect it,” he told reporters in a separate interview, as he assured that the federal government would still continue to prosecute local officials involved in any wrongdoing despite the defeat.

Mr. Sablan was cleared of all counts of bribery stemming from three separate incidents which the prosecution alleged to have occurred in exchange for hiring of workers through a recruitment agency.

Elizabeth P. Castaneda, owner of EPC Recruiting Service who was the star witness for the prosecution, testified that Mr. Sablan demanded payment from her in connection with the hiring of 12 Filipino laborers to work on the project for CUC.

Mr. Sablan had pled not guilty to the charges that accused him of receiving kickbacks from Ms. Castaneda amounting to $2,400 in 1996. During the time the crime was allegedly committed, CUC and the CNMI government obtained more than $10,000 in federal grants.

Other witnesses presented by the prosecution detailed preparation of checks that facilitated payment of the alleged bribe.

The defense, however, lined up character witnesses, including Philippine Sen. Ramon Revilla, to support its contention that Mr. Sablan could have not been involved in such an act because of his standing in the community.

During the trial, his lawyers questioned the credibility of Ms. Castaneda, a Filipina, who they claimed had been convicted by the court in the past. They also expressed disbelief that Mr. Sablan would have committed the crime as alleged by the prosecution, citing his earnings from his businesses.

Mr. Sablan, a former member of the House of Representatives, was appointed by ex-Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio to the CUC board in 1996 to represent Saipan. He served as its chair for two consecutive years that ended in 1998.

He currently chairs the Task Force on Water Desalination Plant formed by the board last year. He was elected in July 1999 to head the board’s personnel committee. (With reports from Lindablue F. Romero)