Police arrest suspect on robbery of masseuse at Micro Beach Hotel

Police arrested on Friday the suspect in the beating of a Chinese masseuse during a robbery inside her room at Micro Beach Hotel in western Garapan.

Police Detective Jeffrey I. Norita served an arrest warrant to Jodan S. Taitingfong, 23, in As Lito on charges of robbery, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.

At a hearing yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho imposed a $25,000 cash bail and set the preliminary hearing for Aug. 9 at 1:30pm.

Attorney Rosemond Santos appeared as counsel for Taitingfong. Assistant attorney general Jonathan Glass Jr. appeared for the government.

Detective Norita stated in his report that it was a “confidential source” who revealed to a police officer that the person on the surveillance camera’s footage in the Micro Beach robbery was Taitingfong.

Norita said the “confidential source” is a close family member of Taitingfong.

Norita said the victim also identified Taitingfong in the photo line-up as the person who attacked her in her bedroom and ran away with her purse.

Norita said that last July 7 at 2:17am, two police officers responded to the robbery incident that occurred at one of the rooms on the third floor of Micro Beach Hotel in western Garapan.

The officers gathered that the suspect, who was later identified as Taitingfong, assaulted the masseuse in her room.

The officer noticed the victim’s mouth was bleeding and her left eye and left cheek were swollen. The officer also observed drips of blood on the floor of the bedroom, restroom, in the sink, and on the bed.

Medics later transported the 41-year-old masseuse to the Commonwealth Health Center for treatment.

Norita said during an interview with a police officer, the masseuse, through an interpreter, disclosed that she met Taitingfong, who asked her for a massage.

The masseuse escorted Taitingfong to her room. Upon entering the room, the defendant allegedly struck her, causing her to faint.

When the victim regained consciousness later, her mouth was bleeding and her face was swollen. She noticed that her purse was missing and the doors of her cabinet were opened and her belongings were all scattered.

Norita said a CHC doctor told him last July 7 that the victim’s injuries were consistent to a blunt force trauma that caused bruising and swelling on the left side of face, and also a laceration on the lips.

Norita said the purse worth $500 contained $56, a copy of the victim’s China passport, five China long distance phone cards worth $10 each, and a Best Sunshine International, Ltd. membership card.

Norita said he and another detective went to Taitingfong’s house in As Lito last Tuesday, July 26, and invited him to the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Bureau for an interview.

Norita said Taitingfong admitted he was with the masseuse on the early morning of July 7.

Taitingfong said he was in front of the Spa building when a Chinese masseuse asked if he was interested in a lady.

Taitingfong and the masseuse proceeded to her room, where she asked for payment.

Taitingfong said he told the masseuse he did not have money and that he then left the room immediately.

The defendant claimed that he left immediately because the masseuse might accuse him of doing something to her. He denied laying a hand on her.

Norita said she showed Taitingfong a footage procured from an apartment, where he was seen running away holding the masseuse’s purse.

Taitingfong admitted it was him in the footage, but explained he was holding his betel nut bag.

Police recovered Taitingfong’s grey RVCA hat he left in a rented car. Police also seized from the defendant’s house, the short pants he was wearing during the robbery.

The surveillance camera captured a clear footage of the suspect along with the victim upon entering the hotel’s main entrance on the ground floor.

The hotel’s surveillance camera’s footage shows that the victim and the suspect walked into the lobby of Micro Beach Hotel at 1:56am.

Witnesses saw the suspect fleeing down the alley between JJ Commercial Building and Micro Beach Hotel. The suspect was last seen running east of Micro Beach Road.

A hotel employee said she saw the victim and the suspect when they entered the hotel.

The employee said about 30 minutes later, she was surprised when she saw the bloodied crying victim coming downstairs accompanied by a couple who are staying next to the victim’s room. The employee said she then called police.