In yesterday’s bail hearing, Associate Judge David A. Wiseman imposed a $2,000 bail on Manny M. Torres, 10 percent or $200 of which will be in cash and the remaining in unsecured bond.
Torres was charged with 39-year-old Minglong Li with document fraud, conspiracy to commit document fraud, attempt to commit unlawful employment of aliens, conspiracy to commit unlawful employment of aliens and inducement by fraudulent misrepresentations.
Torres was represented by Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke while Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Busenkell appeared on behalf of the government.
If he posts bail, Torres must return to court whenever required to do so, not leave Saipan without court permission, obey all commonwealth laws, and have no direct or indirect contact with his co-defendant, the Department of Labor and its employees.
In his affidavit in support of an arrest warrant, Investigator Erwin Flores stated that he executed an arrest warrant for Minglong Li on May 1, 2009 for overstaying in the CNMI without authorization.
Flores said during his investigation he learned that Torres concocted a scheme to employ Li by means of sponsorship so Li would be able to remain in the CNMI with a valid status entry permit.
Li told Flores that in Dec. 2008, he met with Torres at the ABCD Market in Koblerville to acquire a job from Torres.
He said that if he paid $2,000, Torres promised to employ him as a cashier at the S&T Internet Game.
Li said he paid Torres $875 on Dec. 22, 2008 for processing fee to complete the sponsorship scheme.
He said he and Torres executed an intent to hire form from Labor’s of employment services division.
Labor set a hearing for Jan. 27, 2009 for Li’s request for transfer of employment to Torres.
Li told investigator that he received a call from Torres on Jan. 27 informing him that he could not attend the Labor hearing due to a family problem.
Labor reset the hearing for Feb. 16, 2009 but Li learned when he went to Labor that Feb. 16 was President’s Day, a government holiday.
Li said he contacted Torres several occasions to inquire about the hearing with Labor but Torres told him he had not yet received any information from the department.
Li said after failing to talk to Torres, he went to Labor to verify his employment status, only to learn that Torres never contacted the department to reschedule any hearing, and that Torres did not submit any documents to complete Li’s employment processing.
Li said Torres also did not answer several calls he made on the telephone.
Flores said on the afternoon of May 4, 2009, he met with Torres who admitted that he received a notice of hearing from Labor with two objection notices which required him to submit an intent form application for Li and a business gross receipt tax receipt as a prospective employer.
The investigator said Flores told him he was financially incapable of employing Li.
Torres then told the investigator that he had no intent for Li to work for him and Li only wanted him as his sponsor so Li could remain in the CNMI.
