Igisomar: Roberto never gave instructions to throw SIM card

Randy Igisomar, one of three men who bludgeoned to death a school security guard in 2008, testified yesterday that Raymond B. Roberto never instructed his friend during a phone conversation to get rid of her cell phone’s SIM card.

Igisomar, 22, however, exposed himself to possible perjury and other charges after admitting during cross-examination that he lied to a federal grand jury when he testified that Roberto instructed his friend to get rid of her phone’s SIM card.

The friend Igisomar was referring to is a 28-year-old mother of three who testified Thursday that Roberto had sex with her several times, including a threesome, in exchange for drugs and money.

The mother disclosed that either on April 24 or 25, 2014, Igisomar, who was in jail, called her, but that Roberto suddenly got on the phone. She said Roberto told her to get rid of her phone’s SIM card. She added that Roberto instructed her not to tell anyone that he talked to her about the SIM card.

Roberto’s counsel, Joaquin Torres, called Igisomar to the witness stand in the ongoing jury trial of the 41-year-old Roberto, who is charged with three counts of enticing three minors to engage in prostitution and one count of witness tampering.

Before allowing Igisomar to testify, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona asked him if he has ever testified in a grand jury proceeding. When Igisomar said yes, Manglona explained the crime of perjury and asked him if he wishes to have a lawyer because there is a possibility that his testimony may have incriminating statements that could later be used against him.

“You have a puzzled look,” said Manglona as she again explained the situation to Igisomar.

Igisomar looked at Manglona then replied that he wants to talk to an attorney. Manglona ordered a recess. When trial resumed in the afternoon, attorney Sean Frink appeared in court as Igisomar’s counsel. Igisomar then agreed to testify.

During Torres’ direct examination, Igisomar said he was at the Department of Corrections and was talking on the phone with his friend (mother of three) when Roberto, who was next to him, asked him to tell his friend to contact his lawyer and investigator through her sister in Guam.

Igisomar said he passed the phone to Roberto and that he could hear Roberto talking to her. When asked if he heard Roberto telling his friend on the phone to throw her cell phone or SIM card, Igisomar answered “no.” He said his friend told him to lie to investigators that Roberto asked her to get rid of her SIM card.

Igisomar said his friend told him that if he lies, the federal government will help him get out of jail early and be with her.

Igisomar agreed with Torres that after he testified in a grand jury, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents interviewed him at DOC on Aug. 8, 2014. He said he explained to FBI agents and prosecutors that it was his friend’s plan for him to lie about the SIM card.

Igisomar said he explained he was thinking about his freedom so he lied to the grand jury about the SIM card, but the FBI and prosecutors just kept saying he was lying. Igisomar said he did not explain to prosecutors that it was his friend’s plan to lie to investigators.

During Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami S. Badawy’s cross-examination, Igisomar said he testified before a grand jury that Roberto instructed him to get rid of his friend’s SIM card. Badawy admitted as evidence Igisomar’s grand jury testimony.

In his re-direct examination, Torres asked Igisomar if he had a lawyer during the grand jury and if perjury charge was explained to him. Igisomar replied, “No, sir.”

He agreed with Torres that his testimony before the grand jury was not the truth and that his testimony in court is the truth.

Igisomar was sentenced in May 2011 to 22 years for the murder of Marianas High School security guard Efren Ballesteros. Igisomar’s two co-defendants also pleaded guilty and are currently serving prison terms at DOC.

After Igisomar, the defense called two more witnesses: Department of Public Safety Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation commander Kevin Aldan and former Division of Fish and Wildlife director and now Rep. Richard Benavente Seman.

Aldan talked about his role in the investigation and arrest of then-DPS firefighter Richard S. Benavente and the search of the latter’s house.

Aldan said there were two cell phones confiscated from Benavente, but there was only one SIM card.

During Badawy’s cross-examination, Aldan agreed that if one of the phone has a SIM card, he will put it in his report.

Aldan also agreed with the prosecutor that if he did not document it in his report that there’s no other SIM card, there was no other SIM card. Aldan said the number of the SIM card is for 785-3503.

Benavente had testified on Tuesday that he owned the cell phone with the number 789-3443. One of Roberto’s three alleged underage victims earlier testified that Roberto used that number.

Rep. Seman testified that he was the director of Fish and Wildlife when Roberto worked as a data manager.

Seman said that on July 13 and 14, 2013, there was an annual International Fishing Derby and that Roberto was the official weigh-in master.

Seman identified photos that he took at the derby, in which Roberto was there.

The lawmaker said he never saw Roberto holding or using a cell phone during the derby.

Seman, however, agreed with Badawy during cross-examination that he didn’t look every second at Roberto during those two-day Derby.

The defense is expected to call their last witness today, Thursday.