By Gina Tabonares
Variety News Staff

AFTER 14 months of inactivity, the government corruption case filed against former chief of staff Gil A. Shinohara is back on the court calendar after a trial court judge scheduled a trial for June 27.
Assistant Attorney General Wil-liam “Bill” Bischoff reminded the defendant that he could demand a speedy trial that would allow his case to be heard in 45 days, instead of three months.
Shinohara, who is representing himself, opted not to demand the immediate resolution of his case which, according Bischoff, “remains a puzzle.”
Bischoff said he is wondering why Shinohara would rather spend more time in local jail instead of beginning serving 32 months in jail as a result of a federal court sentencing.
Bischoff said he kept asking the court to schedule a trial for Shinohara and the trial schedule only came two weeks after the court dismissed his motion for reconsideration.
Shinohara, 55, was convicted two years ago in the District Court of Guam for a money laundering conspiracy, along with former Sen. Willy Flores.
Shinohara was also implicated with former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez and former Retirement Fund director John Rios for allegedly conspiring to inflate the retirement benefit of the former governor.
Judge Arthur Barcinas dismissed the superseding indictment against Gutierrez and Rios, but not against Shinohara, who was charged with theft by deception and official misconduct.
He is locked up in the Hagatna detention facility pending the outcome of the retirement case filed against him on Dec. 23, 2005.