The jury selection started yesterday morning and the opening arguments between the government and defense took place yesterday afternoon.
Prosecution witness, former Judge Timothy H. Bellas, took the witness stand yesterday afternoon for the government’s direct examination and the defense’s cross examination conducted by Pelisamen’s lawyer, Douglas F. Cushnie.
Pelisamen and his co-defendant attorney Joseph Arriola were indicted for making over $600,000 in unauthorized withdrawals from the Kaipat estate in 2007.
On May 1, 2009, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson declared a mistrial after a 12-member jury and two alternates reached a deadlock and were not able to agree on a verdict.
On Jan. 11, 2008, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Pelisamen for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. (See related story regarding Arriola on page 8)
Pelisamen and Arriola were indicted on charges of transferring $625,575 from the Rita Kaipat estate’s account.
Pelisamen was appointed as the administrator of the Kaipat estate in Sept. 2007.
Arriola served as Pelisamen’s counsel in that probate.
The Superior Court removed Pelisamen and Arriola from the estate after finding that some of its money was missing.
