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AG: OAG endeavors to uphold justice
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Posted on Dec 07 2011
The Office of the Attorney General endeavors to uphold justice regardless of rank, familial ties, or one’s career path, according to Attorney General Edward T. Buckingham in comments related to the filing of a criminal case against Police Sgt. Vicente O. Tagabuel for allegedly stealing utility services.
Buckingham told Saipan Tribune yesterday in an email that, consistent with the criminal information that has been filed, they believe that Tagabuel committed theft of utility services. Buckingham said they intend to present evidence of this crime in court.
“We respect that any accused person is presumed innocent and the Office of the Attorney General is required to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said.
Assistant attorney general Russell Lorfing stated in the criminal information that Tagabuel “committed the theft of utility services totaling in the approximate amount of $196.70 by bypassing the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s meter” from April 15 to 27, 2011.
Tagabuel was served with penal summons to appear in the Superior Court to answer the charges on Dec. 12, 2011, at 9am.
Tagabuel is with the Department of Public Safety’s Summons and Warrant Office. It was not immediately clear if he has been suspended while the case is pending in court.
The OAG recently charged Joanna C. Pai and her mother, Columba I. Chong, with the same offense, alleging that the two stole utility services worth over $51,000.
Attorney Rexford Kosack, counsel for Mrs. Pai, asked the court to dismiss the case, saying the only reason why Mrs. Pai has been charged is because she is the wife of Public Auditor Michael Pai, who is at loggerheads with Buckingham.
