Govendo found probable cause to believe that the offense of possession and trafficking of “ice” may have been committed by Fuzhu Lin, also known as Noni.
Police said Lin worked at Tinian Dynasty as a cook.
Lin appeared for his Gerstein, or probable cause, hearing in Govendo’s courtroom yesterday morning while under the custody of the Department of Corrections.
Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Petersburg, the prosecutor, asked the court to impose a $30,000 cash bail.
The court appointed Assistant Public Defender Douglas Hartig to represent Lin, who was assisted by an interpreter.
Drug Enforcement Task Force Detective Sean White was called as the government’s witness.
The cooperating source said a man, known as Noni, and later confirmed to be Lin, was active in selling “ice” within the vicinity of Tinian Dynasty, White said.
Through a cooperating source, White said authorities negotiated to buy “ice” from Lin.
White said authorities secured an eavesdropping search warrant against Lin.
On Oct. 29, 2010, the CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force and other members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau conducted a buy-bust operation on Lin.
White said the cooperating source contacted Lin for a controlled buy operation at about 8:20 p.m.
Lin suggested to the cooperating source to purchase $400 worth of “ice,” but the source could pay $200 only.
Lin told the cooperating source to meet in the Tinian Dynasty’s barbeque area.
Because the area was lighted, Lin transferred the drug deal to the tennis court area, where he stayed in the dark.
Lin instructed the cooperating source to meet him there.
As soon as the drug deal was consummated, the cooperating source gave the signal to the authorities who then tried to go after Lin, White said.
But Lin escaped on foot upon seeing White.
Authorities lost track of Lin who went to the generator area of the hotel which was immediately cordoned off.
Police continued their manhunt for Lin the next morning, and coordinated with the human resources office of Tinian Dynasty which allowed access to Lin’s personnel records.
White said after obtaining Lin’s photo, two cooperating sources positively identified Lin as the person in the photograph and the one involved in “ice” trafficking on Tinian.
During cross-examination by Lin’s defense counsel, White told the court he recognized Lin at the time of the controlled buy operation.
At about 3:30 p.m., Saturday, White said they received information that Lin reported at his hotel’s work station, the kitchen.
White said Lin consented to a search of his house and the authorities recovered the marked money used in the previous drug sting.
Lin had scratches on his arms. Police found a pair of khaki shorts with some grass on them that matched what Lin was wearing during the buy bust, White told the court.
Lin was taken to Tinian DPS from where he was later transported to Saipan on board a Boating Safety Unit vessel, and brought to the Department of Corrections facility.
