During yesterday’s bail hearing, Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja also designated the Public Defender’s Office to be Jack Ngirabuuch’s counsel.
The government, through Assistant Attorney General Mike Evangelista, asked the court to impose a $5,000 bail because the defendant is a threat to the community.
The court granted the government’s motion.
Naraja said if the defendant posts bail, he will be subjected to several court conditions like keeping all appointments with the court, surrendering his travel documents, staying away from Ming Li store and committin no other federal or local offense.
Naraja scheduled the preliminary hearing for Nov. 5, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. and the arraignment for Nov. 10 at 9 a.m.
Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo issued a warrant of arrest against Ngirabuuch on Oct. 26, 2008.
The defendant was arrested two days later.
In his affidavit, Detective Vincent Basa said that on June 16, 2008, an employee of Ming Li store in Garapan filed a complaint of theft by issuance of bad check at her workplace.
This case also involved stolen company checks and police believe that Ngirabuuch and accomplices eventually cashed the checks at numerous stores on island.
Basa said they learned through an interview with a cooperating suspect that the defendant cashed one of the stolen checks at Ming Li store.
On Aug. 7, 2008, Basa said he arrived at Ming Li store and met with the store employee who showed him a check from Freedom Inc.
Investigation showed that the defendant bought several items at Ming Li store on June 13 totaling $44 and presented a $500 check payable to the defendant’s name.
The employee told Basa that the defendant presented her with an identification card issued by the Saipan Mayor’s Office.
Basa said he met with a staff member of the mayor’s office on June 25, 2008.
He asked the staff for a copy of the ID card the defendant used in cashing the check.
After a few minutes, the defendant’s name came up and with it was a note indicating that the defendant had also victimized Sugar King Store through the issuance of bad checks.
