Fu Zhu Lin, 39, also known as Noni, was supposed to stand for jury trial on April 25, 2011 but this was vacated by the court, and rescheduled for Sept. 6, 2011 at the Tinian courthouse.
Assistant Public Defender Richard Miller, who is representing the defendant, argued that it has been more than five months since the government filed drug charges against his client, yet the prosecutor “has not disclosed materials essential for [the defendant] to prepare an effective and complete defense.”
Assistant Attorney General Russel Lorfing, who is prosecuting the case, told the court that he was reassigned by chief prosecutor to a different case, also set for trial, about a week earlier than Lin’s trial.
Lin, a Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino employee, has denied the charges.
CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force and other members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau conducted a buy-bust operation on Lin on Oct. 29, 2010.
Through a cooperating source, authorities bought $200 worth of “ice” from Lin who tried to escape on foot after the drug deal.
Police also recovered from Lin’s house the marked money he used in the drug deal.
Lin is out on bail after posting $3,000 cash, and a $27,000 unsecured or appearance bond.
