Misuse of debit card gets man arrested; 3 others arrested

Police arrested last week four men for allegedly committing separate criminal offenses on Saipan.

The suspects—Clifford Jack Palacios, 31; Peter John Aldan Blas, 29; Mohammed Jahangir Buhiyan, 40; and Esvi Frances Meinanew, 46—were brought before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho last Friday for their initial appearance.

Palacios was arrested on charges of 36 counts of misuse of financial instruments. A $20,000 cash bail was imposed on him.

Blas was arrested on charges of assault and battery, obstructing justice, and disturbing the peace. The judge imposed a $750 cash bail on Blas.

Buhiyan was arrested on charges of assault and battery, disturbing the peace, and child abuse. He posted a $300 cash bail.

Meinanew was arrested on charges of assault and battery, and disturbing the peace. He was freed upon posting a $50 cash bail.

Preliminary hearing for all four will be on Dec. 27 at 10am.

In Palacios’ case, a police detective said that his review of bank statements last Oct. 31 showed that the suspect made 36 transactions through Western Union using his employer’s debit card, totaling $15,614.

The detective said the amount, including $1,521 in fees for making the transactions, and purchases for game products, depleted the employer’s bank account.

Police began their the investigation after businessman Paul Zak went to the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Bureau last Sept. 26 to report the theft and misuse of their company’s credit card.

Zak and Sam Rayburn are owners of Inter-Island Transport Co., which is in the business of repairing used motorcycles and automobiles.

Apparently, Zak went to First Hawaiian Bank last Aug. 26 to withdraw $3,000 in cash and was informed by the bank that their business account was on overdraft.

Zak learned from the bank statements that several of the transactions were made from San Francisco, California to Western Union on Saipan.

Zak went to Western Union and was informed that his employee, Palacios, came to Western Union several times to pick up cash.

According to Zak’s business partner, Rayburn, he never approved any of the withdrawals or charges on their bank account. Neither could he have sent money to Palacios from San Francisco because he never went to San Francisco.

In the case against Blas, the defendant was allegedly drunk and challenged several men at Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa to a fight last Wednesday afternoon.

When a police officer arrested Blas, he allegedly repeatedly kicked the officer. The defendant also allegedly threatened to kill the officer when he is released from jail.

Blas was just released last Nov. 3 after a criminal conviction. He is still on probation.

In Buhiyan’s case, the defendant, who was intoxicated, allegedly repeatedly hit the head of his teenage daughter, who was sleeping in the living room of their house in Koblerville last Nov. 4.

In Meinanew’s case, the defendant was allegedly stalking his former girlfriend, who had a temporary restraining order against him. Police arrested Meinanew on a warrant last week.