One of 2 suspects in tourist robbery is released

One of two men suspected of robbing a tourist and her daughter along a street in Garapan was released on bail to his mother to await court proceedings from home.

Wilson Kenneth Caintoy Celeste, 24, who was arrested on charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and receiving stolen property, was released from the Department of Corrections to his third-party custodian, his mother.

Celeste’s lawyer, Samuel Mok, asked for the bail to be modified and waived Celeste’s preliminary hearing last Monday during Celeste’s preliminary hearing before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho.

Mok asked the court allow Celeste’s family to post just 5% of the bail, $1,000, and put the rest up as an unsecured bond.

Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas did not object to the request and had no objections to the third-party custodian.

After few concerns that were addressed like Celeste’s work schedule and how it would fit with the court’s curfew, Camacho granted the bail modification and his family posted the $1,000 bail last Monday.

Celeste was ordered to return to court for his arraignment on Aug. 5 and to comply with court given instructions while out on bail like curfew, surrendering his travel documents, and more.

Celeste is also prohibited from speaking to his co-defendant, Carl Aldan, prohibited from having any contact with the victim and her daughter, and is prohibited from going near seaports and airports.

According to court information, Department of Public Safety officers responded to a report of a robbery on July 14 at around 7:22pm along Plumeria Avenue in Garapan. The victim was a tourist and her young daughter who reported that she was robbed by a man who ran out from a red Nissan Sentra and grabbed her purse while she and her daughter were walking.

On July 18, police found the red Nissan Sentra at Celeste’s residence in Gualo Rai and brought him in for questioning.

Celeste allegedly confessed that he drove the vehicle that was used in the robbery but Aldan was the one who stole the tourist’s purse.

Celeste said that he needed money so he sent Aldan a message through Facebook to borrow some from him. Aldan, in turn, told Celeste he knew of a way to make money quickly and all he needed to do was drive him.

Celeste said there was over $1,000 in the stolen purse, a Hermes watch, passports, and credit cards.

Celeste told police that Aldan gave him $400 from the stolen cash and Aldan took the rest and left in a taxi.