FARES Nimer, 44, was arrested for swinging a knife against another man while heavily intoxicated, according to a police complaint filed against the defendant.
Nimer appeared in the custody of the Department of Corrections before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho for a bail hearing Friday morning.
Because of a language barrier, Nimer’s court-appointed counsel, Assistant Public Defender Molly Dennert, requested a continuance until a suitable Chuukese interpreter was available.
Assistant Attorney General David Karch appeared for the government.
A $20,000 cash bail arrest warrant was previously issued by Judge Camacho against Nimer, who was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault, and disturbing the peace.
The complaint
According to the victim, late Wednesday evening, March 13, 2024, he and his common-law wife left the hospital, where he was admitted, to go to the Garapan Fishing Base for fresh air.
When they stepped out of their vehicle, they heard a male voice shouting. When the victim turned, he saw Nimer walking toward him and shouting in Chuukese language while holding a knife.
The common-law wife got back into the car and saw Nimer approach her partner and swing the knife at him.
Police said the knife was 12 ¾ inches long.
At the time, a police vehicle was conducting a routine patrol and heard the commotion. When the male victim saw the police vehicle, he ran to it and said Nimer had a “machete” and was saying “I am going to kill you.”
Nimer later told investigators that he started drinking by himself at around 12 noon on March 13, 2024. He said he drank a bottle of Ginebra, and that he doesn’t remember anything that happened after 5-6 p.m. But Nimer said he did have a knife with him that he used to pick coconuts earlier that day.
