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Man facing gun possession raps now also facing assault charges
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Posted on Jul 22 2022
Kim-Tenorio
A man who recently pleaded not guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm now also faces assault charges in the Superior Court.
MD Ikbal Bapari, was brought before the Superior Court yesterday over a bench warrant issued following a suit that accuses him of assaulting three individuals with a rebar on Rota.
Bapari, 36, currently faces in the U.S. District Court for the NMI one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm and three counts of assault and disturbing the peace with the CNMI Superior Court.
According to the local court case filed against Bapari, he allegedly threatened to hit MD Shahin Dhali, MD Subaz Sheikh, and MD Julas Rary with a piece of metal rebar on June 27, 2022.
Bapari also allegedly disturbed them by yelling and threatening to damage the car they were on, the complaint stated.
Last June 28, Bapari was indicted in federal court and he pleaded not guilty in July.
According to the indictment, on or about May 5, 2022, Bapari “then being an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, did unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly possess a firearm, to wit, a .40 caliber handgun, Glock model 22, serial number WHZ254, in and affecting interstate commerce.”
Then, on July 6, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Bapari and imposed a $2,500 bail.
While Bapari was being held for his federal case, CNMI Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds requested the local court to issue an order directing the U.S. Marshals Service to temporarily remand Bapari to the custody of the Department of Corrections so Bapari could appear in Superior Court for a bench warrant hearing on July 20. Camacho granted the request.
During the July 20 hearing, U.S. District Court for the NMI designated judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio reset the defendant’s detention hearing to Thursday, July 21, at 9 am.
Kim-Tenorio told attorney David Banes, who represents Bapari in the federal case, that if no third-party custodian is found, the hearing will be vacated and the order of detention pending trial will be issued.
No order has been issued on the detention hearing as of press time.
The federal court has scheduled Bapari’s jury trial for Sept. 12 at 10 am.
