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Pelisamen arrested
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Posted on Jun 01 2006
Police arrested yesterday ousted Rita Kaipat estate administrator Luis K. Pelisamen who was held in contempt of court for not appearing during Tuesday’s hearing.
The Department of Public Safety confirmed with the Saipan Tribune that police officers served the bench warrant to Pelisamen at his house in Chalan Laulau in the afternoon.
“Yes, we already got him,” said a DPS official, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity.
Pelisamen did not resist arrest, the same DPS official added.
A check with the Superior Court indicated there was no bail hearing yesterday afternoon for Pelisamen.
Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama, in issuing the bench warrant Tuesday, stated that Pelisamen’s letter to the court requesting him to be excused for the scheduled hearing because of a medical problem is not sufficient reason for not complying with the court’s order.
“I hold him in contempt. This bench warrant should be expeditiously executed,” the judge stressed.
The Rita Kaipat estate was awarded by the defunct Marianas Public Lands Authority $4.7 million in land compensation settlement. The amount was split equally among three estates, Rita, Isaac, and Benigno Kaipat.
On Nov. 25, 2005, Arriola and Pelisamen opened a checking account in the amount of $1,377,058.39 at the Bank of Hawaii under the account name: Estate of Rita Kaipat. Some of the amount were already distributed to certain heirs of Rita Kaipat, but some are missing.
Meanwhile, attorney Joseph N. Camacho, counsel for Isaac Kaipat estate, yesterday assured the heirs of the Isaac Kaipat that through the administrator, Mystica Kaipat, their money is fully secured and protected while the probate is ongoing.
Camacho said their participation in the Rita Kaipat issue pertained only to the $15,000 that the Isaac Kaipat estate contributed for the payment of the $50,000 that was paid to the surveyors.
