Suspect claims cops seized $996 from her

The Superior Court has ordered the Office of the Attorney General to explain why it should not be held in contempt for not releasing the $996 cash that was seized last year by some police officers from a woman whose boyfriend was arrested for trafficking methamphetamine or “ice.”

Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja set the show-cause hearing for Jan. 26, 2012, at 9am, directing the OAG to explain why the $996 has not been released to Lin Lin Song until now.

In his order issued Thursday, Naraja said that, at the Nov. 28, 2011, change of plea hearing, Song, who appeared with counsel, chief public defender Adam Hardwicke, alleged that some police officers seized $996 from her at the time of her and her boyfriend’s arrest.

At the hearing, Song entered an Alford plea to the offense of child neglect. The remaining charges were dismissed and she was released that same day after being sentenced to 29 days in prison, with credit for the 29 days she has already spent in jail.

Naraja then scheduled a hearing on Dec. 15, 2011, for the failure to release the money to Song.

At the Dec. 15, 2011, hearing, assistant attorney general Darren Robinson appeared for the government and informed the court that the government was not prepared to argue the issue. This prompted Naraja to set the show-cause hearing for Jan. 26, 2012.

Court records showed that Song and her boyfriend, Hong Wang, were arrested on July 20, 2010, after a buy-bust operation targeting Wang for “ice” trafficking.

Song and their 2-year-old baby were passengers in the car where the reported buy took place. Police officers pulled over the car near the Northern Marianas College.

In a motion to suppress evidence, Song’s former counsel, assistant public defender Richard C. Miller, said that police officers searched Song and Wang’s residence in San Jose without a warrant.

Although Song was present, Miller said the officers did not seek or obtain her consent to do the search.

In court papers, assistant attorney general Peter Prestley said that all the money used for the sting operation were found in Song’s wallet.

Prestley said Wang consented to a search of his apartment where law enforcement personnel also found drug paraphernalia and recovered $976 cash.

Wang has already pleaded guilty to illegal possession of controlled substance and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.