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Sablan won’t recruit students from China anymore
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Posted on Sep 08 2004
International Business and Professional College president Herman P. Sablan is no longer interested in recruiting students from China following yesterday’s conviction of Saipan University founder Soon Kyung Park in federal court.
“I’m not inclined to bring in students [from China] for that purpose,” said Sablan, who himself took the witness stand Tuesday for the defense.
Sablan yesterday said he fully respects the jury’s decision to convict Park for various fraud charges such as misrepresentation in the recruitment and transport of at least 88 Chinese students to the CNMI last year.
“I respect their decision. They did it because they believe justice is served,” he said.
Sablan, a former member of the U.S. military, began IBPC in 2001, which offers short courses in languages and computer.
In his testimony Tuesday, Sablan said he also recruited students from China using the same recruiter as Park.
He said he went to China early this year—after Park had surrendered to Federal Bureau of Investigation over the SU fiasco—to check the market.
He told the court that he was able to bring in five students from China. These students, he said, have finished their short courses and have gone back to China.
Sablan also told the court that IBPC entered into an agreement with SU for the repair and maintenance of SU’s computers. SU used to hold office in Nauru Building in Susupe where IBPC is located.
Sablan went back to the court yesterday afternoon to hear the jury’s verdict, together with his associate and former SU president Jesus Taisague.
The verdict had been read when the two came. Taisague left the room shortly upon learning the jury’s decision, while Sablan stayed a little and shook the hand of prosecution lawyer Patrick Smith.
