THE bench trial of Vicente S. Basa, a repeat offender who is accused of stealing alcoholic drinks from Twins Supermarket in Dandan, will start on Aug. 4 at 10 a.m., Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho said.
Basa, 69, was charged with theft.
According to the information filed by the government, Basa, “on March 27, 2021, unlawfully took the property of [Twins] Supermarket located in Dandan, with intent to permanently deprive the owner of its right to the property, to wit: alcohol, said property having a value of less than [$250] in violation of 6 CMC § 1601(a), and made punishable by 6 CMC §§ 1601(b)(3) and 4101(c) [which carries a maximum sentence of one…year imprisonment, $1,000…fine, or both].”
The government, through Assistant Attorney General Heather Barcinas, notified the court of its intention to use Tagalog (Filipino) and Chinese interpreters at the trial.
“The interpreters’ services are required because there will be witnesses whose native languages are Tagalog and Chinese. The Commonwealth anticipates that the witnesses may have difficulty understanding certain terms and providing detailed testimony in a courtroom setting without interpreters present,” Barcinas said.
Basa is represented by the public defender’s office.
Last year, he was arrested for trying to run over a man with a car and repeatedly ramming a parked vehicle in Kagman 3.
He was later sentenced to one-year imprisonment, all but 90 days suspended after he pled guilty to theft of vehicle.
The judge also gave Basa credit of 59 days for time served.
The judgment and commitment order by Judge Camacho stated that the suspended sentence may be imposed in whole or in part for violation of law or Adult Probation Office rules.
Basa was ordered to pay court costs in the amount of $25 and his license was immediately revoked, although he could apply for reinstatement of his driver’s license six months from his release from prison.
In addition, Basa was placed on probation for three years and must pay restitution in the amount of $12,955.78 to the victim in the case.
The judgement and commitment order noted that Basa was facing a possible maximum sentence of 24 years and six months if he had gone to trial in that case.
In 2017, he was charged with assaulting the husband of his niece. Basa pled guilty to disturbing the peace as part of a plea deal and was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, all suspended except for the first 32 days.
Vicente Basa
