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Rapadas resigns as chief prosecutor
Leonardo M. Rapadas resigned as chief prosecutor effective last Friday, Saipan Tribune learned yesterday.
Rapadas
Office of the Attorney General information officer Carla Torres confirmed with the Saipan Tribune that Rapadas has resigned and that Attorney General Edward Manibusan has tapped assistant attorney general Chester Hinds to serve as acting chief prosecutor.
Rapadas told Saipan Tribune last night that he was honored to be asked by Manibusan to be the first chief prosecutor for the first elected AG but he needs to take care of personal matters in Guam.
“It was an honor and a pleasure working with him. But there are things happening back home that require my attention,” he said.
When pressed on what’s happening in Guam, Rapadas said he needs to deal with a civil lawsuit filed against a former employee when he served as AG.
Rapadas said this is the longest he has ever stayed in the CNMI.
“I’m just enjoying every moment of it. Who knows, given the opportunity again, I could be back again,” he said.
Rapadas took his oath as chief prosecutor only in March. He served as U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Districts of Guam and the NMI from 2003 to 2010. He also served as Guam AG from 2011 to 2015.
When Manibusan took the position as the first CNMI elected AG, he immediately hired Rapadas as chief prosecutor.
