Marianas Variety

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona said Chang Ru Meng Backman will return to court for her arraignment tomorrow.

Backman, 39, who was arrested on Guam by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on May 29, 2012 was brought by the U.S. Marshals Service to federal court for her initial appearance last week.

Backman was arrested on three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and three counts of alien smuggling-harboring.

A grand jury indicted her on May 29, but the matter was sealed until she was arrested by the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami Badawy asked the federal court to detain Backman, pending future proceedings. This was granted by the court.

Backman operated the karaoke bar Holiday Night Club in Chalan Kanoa, “which also provided sexual services for an added fee,” according to the indictment.

Last year, a fire destroyed the establishment.

Sex acts performed by  women generally took place in rooms where they lived in a barracks adjacent to Holiday Night Club procured by Backman, the indictment added.

The three Chinese females arrived in the CNMI in Aug. 2008 “based upon promises, by unnamed persons, of employment at a hotel or a farm on Saipan.”

According to the prosecution, the sex trafficking occurred from 2008 to March 2009. The victims’ visitor entry permits expired in Aug. 2008.

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