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IN OGUMORO’S CORRUPTION CASE
Wiseman orders DPS to submit internal affairs investigation of cop
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman has ordered the Department of Public Safety to submit in court the entire internal affairs investigation of a police detective in connection with the corruption charges against former DPS deputy commissioner Ambrosio T. Ogumoro and Herman M. Manglona Jr.
Wiseman ordered DPS on Wednesday to submit the investigation report for in-camera review on or before last Friday at 12pm.
In-camera submission means filed in private.
Wiseman said he will review the submitted material without the presence of the parties’ counsels. The parties will be notified later as to the court’s findings.
At a hearing last Nov. 18, Wiseman raised a number of concerns it had with Ogumoro’s motion to compel compliance with a subpoena directed toward DPS.
Ogumoro is seeking documents and all records related to an internal affairs investigations conducted by DPS in relation with detective Melissa Bauleong, a prospective witness in the case.
Wiseman said that last Nov. 19, he allowed DPS to file a written opposition to the motion on or before Nov. 24, 2015. DPS did not file a written opposition.
While DPS did not file an objection, Wiseman said the court has concerns with compelling DPS to disclose the entire internal affairs investigation file of an officer—usually confidential in nature.
Wiseman said generally there is no blanket protection of information contained in internal affairs investigation files.
The trial of Ogumoro and Manglona supposed to start yesterday, but Wiseman rescheduled it to March 14, 2016.
Wiseman issued the new trial date after the prosecution and counsels for Ogumoro and Manglona held an in-chamber conference with him on Friday afternoon.
Wiseman did not indicate the reason for the new schedule.
A source, however, disclosed that the reason was a medical matter involving a witness in the case.
The 57-year-old Ogumoro has been charged with eight counts relating to theft by deception, misconduct in public office, conspiracy to commit theft by deception, removal of government property, and theft by unlawful taking.
Manglona has been charged with conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property.
