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OPA files charges vs Tinian Finance chief Shai
Defendant enters not guilty plea
The Office of the Public Auditor has filed formal charges against Tinian Department of Finance resident director Edward Dela Cruz Shai in connection with his submission of alleged false travel documents in order to cash per diem checks for his personal use.
OPA legal counsel George L. Hasselback charged the 50-year-old Shai on Monday with one count of theft by deception and one count of misconduct in public office.
At his arraignment on Monday, Shai, through counsel Joaquin DLG. Torres, waived the reading of the charges and advisement of his constitutional rights. He pleaded not guilty.
Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho set a status conference for June 11, 2014.
Hasselback stated in the charging document that between May 30, 2011, and March 27, 2014, Shai repeatedly filed false or misleading travel documents with the Municipality of Tinian in order to receive authorization for travel to Saipan, ostensibly to conduct official business.
In reality, Hasselback said, Shai, on some occasions, returned early from these trips but did not return the “per diem” funds provided for the remainder of the duration of his trip.
On other occasions, Hasselback said, Shai would not even go on the trip but would remain on Tinian.
In any event, the OPA counsel said, Shai used his position within the Tinian Municipality to justify the provision of travel expenses that he was obligated to return but did not.
In total, Shai allegedly misappropriated more than $10,000 over a period of several years.
Police arrested Shai on Tinian on May 9. Last week, Judge Camacho allowed him to a post property bond and he was released to his wife, his third-party custodian.
OPA investigator Juanette F. David-Atalig stated in her report that Shai submitted a total of 47 travel authorizations from 2011 to 2014. She said almost all of these travel authorizations were to travel to Saipan, supposedly to meet with various government officials for department matters.
OPA learned that the officials, however, denied they ever met with Shai.
