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Deportable ex-convict arrested
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Posted on Mar 25 2009
Authorities arrested early this week an ex-convict who failed to contact the Division of Immigration for his deportation, in violation of the terms of his agreement with the division.
Weider R. Debengek, a Palauan, was brought to the Superior Court yesterday for a bail hearing.
Associate Judge David A. Wiseman remanded Debengek to the custody of the Department of Corrections pending his deportation today, Thursday.
Wiseman ordered Immigration to arrange a supervised visit to the respondent’s family before his departure.
Court records show that in March 2008 the Superior Court convicted Debengek of two felonies—theft of vehicle and burglary. The court imposed a one-year prison term on Debengek.
At the sentencing, Wiseman said Debengek would be immediately deported upon his release from prison.
The theft case involved the stealing of a 2005 Toyota Matrix from Yuying Jiao Etpison between March 25 and 26, 2007. Debengek broke into the building of Lian Tian with the purpose of committing theft.
In May 2007, police arrested Debengek and two other men for allegedly staging an armed robbery at KB Poker in Koblerville on March 26, 2007.
Detectives learned that before the suspects robbed the poker arcade, they stole Etpison’s car and used it as their getaway vehicle.
Following the conviction, Immigration filed a deportation case against Debengek in August 2008.
In February 2009, Wiseman issued a bench warrant against Debengek for not communicating with Immigration as part of their agreement for his deportation.
Wiseman said that on Oct. 20, 2008, he issued an order of deportation based on the stipulation.
In issuing the bench warrant, the judge said that as of Feb. 11, 2009, Debengek has not made known to AGIU any attempt to obtain travel documents so a repatriation ticket may be purchased.
