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CUC acting executive director says there was no search, raid at Riegel’s office
There was no search or raid at the office of Commonwealth Utilities Corp. chief engineer John Riegel last Wednesday, according to CUC acting executive director Gary Camacho.
In an interview on Friday, Camacho said Riegel was on leave and that a couple of engineers needed some information on some diagrams and so forth for projects that were tasked for them to do.
Camacho said he was on a CUC business trip on Tinian at that time, but that he learned that some of the needed information was in Riegel’s office and the engineers were required to get it. “That’s the reason. We did that in the morning in front of everyone, the whole [CUC] staff,” he explained.
Citing multiple sources, Saipan Tribune reported on Thursday that top CUC management officials forcibly opened Riegel’s office last Wednesday.
Saipan Tribune sources said Riegel’s computer and hard drive were some of the items taken out of his office and that a locksmith was used to get into the office.
But Camacho said the staff that went inside Riegel’s office was with acting chief engineer Robert Malate, who was designated by Riegel.
“We just want to be upfront when they needed information to assist us and develop as we more forward,” Camacho said.
The acting executive director said there was no key so they called a locksmith.
“There was no breaking doors in and damaging property. No. There was a locksmith who came in,” Camacho said.
CUC recently filed a lawsuit against Riegel over his amendment of contract that would extend the term of his contract, increase his annual salary, and could not be terminated for cause.
CUC, through counsel James Sirok, is suing Riegel in the Superior Court for invalid provisions of contract.
Sirok asked the court to hold a conciliatory session to resolve the issue of the legality of the amendment provisions complained.
Sirok moved the court to declare that the amendment provisions complained are invalid and not enforceable against CUC.
