IMPERIAL Pacific International respects the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision denying IPI’s petition for a writ of certiorari to appeal the Ninth Circuit’s ruling that allowed the Commonwealth Casino Commission to move ahead with the casino license revocation hearing, IPI Director How Yo Chi said.
In an email on Thursday, Chi said, “Although IPI is disappointed with the U.S. high court’s decision, we will respect the court’s opinion.”
On Monday, Commonwealth Casino Commission Vice Chairman Ralph S. Demapan issued a notice to IPI, setting the revocation hearing for Jan. 31, 2024 at 9 a.m. in the commission’s conference room at Springs Plaza on Middle Road in Gualo Rai.
Demapan, who will preside over the hearing, issued the notice in response to the motion of CCC Executive Director Andrew Yeom on Dec. 13, 2023.
The notice stated that the hearing will be conducted in accordance with the Commonwealth Administrative Procedures Act, the Commonwealth Casino Commission Rules and Regulations and the NMI Administrative Code.
Demapan said following the hearing, a decision will be issued in accordance with the law.
He said the purpose of the hearing “is to afford the parties an opportunity to present their case and submit information pursuant to the law, for the Commission’s consideration before the Commission issues an order as to the revocation of IPI’s exclusive casino gaming license.”
The revocation hearing will address enforcement actions 2020-002 and 2020-003 pertaining to IPI’s non-payment of the annual exclusive casino license and regulatory fees.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, IPI has failed to pay its obligations to the Commonwealth that have now amounted to over $62 million in annual exclusive casino license fee due to the CNMI government, and over $17.62 million in regulatory fee due to the commission, plus fines and penalties, for a total of $79.63 million.
