Witness implicates cop in drug trafficking case

The prosecution’s presentation of evidence culminated yesterday with the testimony of defendant Leo S. Pangelinan’s closest associate in his alleged drug trafficking business.

To the surprise of many, the witness apparently had more bombshells to bare.

In the course of her testimony, witness Sonya Belyeu, at one point, mentioned the alleged involvement of a high-ranking Department of Public Safety official.

She claimed the police official supplied her ice on more than one instance. The witness reportedly identified the police official as Captain Delbert Sablan.

A spokesperson for DPS said Mr. Sablan has no recollection of ever associating with Ms. Belyeu on any capacity, at any time in the past. The police captain is expected to air his side of the story today in a press conference.

The drug trafficking case before the US District Court slowly moves to a close as both defense and prosecution panels seal their arguments before the federal grand jury today.

Ms. Belyeu yesterday testified against Mr. Pangelinan, corroborating statements made by earlier witnesses that the defendant was involved in several hand-to-hand sale of crystal metamphetamine or ice at his house in Capitol Hill.

The key witness told the court she even took part in the packaging of the controlled substances on several occasions.

Ms. Belyeu, the defendant’s former live-in partner, added that she was with Mr. Pangelinan at the time he was arrested October of 2000.

Meanwhile, the prosecution and defense teams are expected to close their case arguments in the trial that accuses Mr. Pangelinan of four-count charges in connection with possession of controlled substances.

The defendant has been indicted before the federal grand jury on charges of possessing with intent to distribute crystal metamphetamine, sale and distribution, and possessing with intent to distribute metamphetamine at different quantities.

At the beginning of the trial, the US government brought before the stand Drug Enforcement Administration agents who have been instrumental in the defendant’s arrest.

The witnesses also included convicted felon tapped by investigators to participate in an undercover buy staged to catch the local businessman on the alleged act of selling drugs.

The other key witness, Vicente Aldan Sablan, is a former drug user hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force as a confidential informant. He served as a direct link between the suspect and investigators.

In his testimony, Mr. Sablan told jurors he bought $300 worth of crystal metamphetamine from Mr. Pangelinan last year, as directed by DEA agents.