Man who stabbed dead another in 2002 is paroled

Majority of the CNMI Board of Parole voted in favor of granting early release for a man who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2006 for stabbing another man to death in 2002.

After serving a third of his sentence, Francisco Aguon Pua was granted parole following the Board of Parole’s two-day deliberation that ended last Friday.

According to board chair Ramon B. Camacho, majority of the board voted in favor of granting parole for Pua, as well as Eric Rabauliman, a man who was also convicted of first-degree murder. Meanwhile, the board denied parole for Jesse James Camacho, a man convicted of first-degree murder; Robert Kotep Shineachi who was imprisoned for sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree; and Clifford Jack Palacios, who was found guilty of theft.

Camacho said Pua will be released around this week as parole officers must first process and complete the paper work and have Pua undergo an orientation.

The board chair said he personally voted in favor of granting parole for Pua because he believes in allowing inmates to transition back into society if they have served at least a third of their sentence and have shown good conduct while imprisoned.

“I personally based my decision on their conduct and I believe in transitioning inmates back into society. As part of [Pua’s] sentence, the court said that after serving a third of the sentence, they are eligible for parole,” he said.

Camacho added that Pua will be released with a set of conditions, including close monitoring by parole officers.

“We release these inmates with a set of conditions. It’s not like they will be full-fledged free men. [Pua] will be closely monitored by parole officers. That’s the mission of our parole officers. If [he] fails any of the conditions that the board imposes on [him], based on the recommendation of the officers, we could revoke their parole and [he] will be placed back in DOC,” he said.

Rota board member Ignacio Mendiola wanted to clarify for the public that he voted against granting parole for Pua. “For the record, of all the five applicants, I voted no for all five parolees,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tinian board member Michael San Nicolas said he voted in favor of granting Pua parole because he believes in giving people who have shown good conduct the benefit of the doubt.

“I voted yes to granting parole based on what I observed on [his] records. I also want to give [him] the benefit of the doubt that [he] will now abide by CNMI law. It was a very tough decision but I had to make that decision,” he said.

The other board members declined to comment.

According to Saipan Tribune archives, Pua has served 16 years of his 50-year sentence for the murder Mostofa Faruk Parves back in 2002, a Bangladeshi national employed as an attendant at Candi’s Poker.

Pua managed walk free for three years following the heinous crime, with police finally arresting him in 2005.