FBI: Father did not cause girls’ disappearance

The FBI was able to reach in Pohnpei Ruhtik Luhk, the biological father of missing sisters Faloma and Maleina Luhk, and was convinced that the girls are not there and that he did not cause their disappearance.

As this developed, Pacific Amusement Inc., an amusement service provider on Saipan and Guam, yesterday offered a $10,000 cash for information that leads to the discovery of the missing sisters Faloma and Maleina Luhk, bringing the total cash reward in this case to $23,500.

As of press time yesterday, FBI and CNMI search teams failed again to locate the girls. Today marks the third week since they were reported missing near a bus stop pavilion in As Teo.

FBI special agent Tom Simon told Saipan Tribune last night that at the request of the FBI, the U.S. State Department in Pohnpei interviewed Ruhtik Luhk at the U.S. Embassy late Monday.

“Following that interview, the FBI is comfortable that the missing girls are not on Pohnpei nor did the father cause their disappearance,” said Simon who is the FBI Honolulu media relations coordinator.

Asked if Ruhtik Luhk is cleared in the investigation, Simon said they don’t talk about who is cleared and who is not cleared.

“We always reserved the right to go back and investigate further if something else should come up,” he said. “We don’t discuss suspects. But I could tell you that from our prospective that angle in this investigation is something we moved on from.”

Ruhtik Luhk, 40, is a former Saipan police officer and a corrections officer. He reportedly moved to Ponpei in 2006 and has never returned to Saipan.

The biological mother of the girls is Jermain Quitugua. Jermain’s father, Elbert Quitugua, and his wife Jane, have been taking care of Faloma and Maleina for almost three years now, since their mother moved to Guam.

Pacific Amusement Inc. general manager James Gebhard told Saipan Tribune that the $10,000 reward is also for information that will lead to the prosecution of the person responsible for the girls’ disappearance.

Gebhard said they are hoping that with the cash reward “some leads will start shaking out.”

“Somebody might decide to talk. And another thing, we all have kids and we don’t want that to happen to somebody else,” he said.

Gebhard said this tragedy affects the entire community.

“We all have children at risk and it’s imperative that the person or persons responsible for this action be brought to justice,” he said.

“We’re heartbroken just like everyone. We hope they are found soon and in good shape. Our prayers are with them everyday,” the general manager said.

Pacific Amusement has been operating in the CNMI since 1994. Their company in the CNMI and Guam operates electronic dartboards, pool tables, Internet jukebox, video games, poker machines, crane machines, cherry masters, ATM terminals, and many others.

The $13,500 other cash rewards were earlier offered by the FBI ($10,000), the NMI Crime Stoppers Program ($1,000), IT&E ($1,000), Sorensen Media Group ($1,000), and Rabby Syed’s Saipan City Taxi Association ($500).

Simon said they are hoping that the enhanced reward will generate additional leads that will assist in bringing the girls home safely.

“We’re definitely not giving up hope. We’re re-energized,” said Simon, adding that their working relationship with the Department of Public Safety is “still very solid.”