MD Ikbal Bapari, also known as MD Ikbal, will plead guilty to illegal possession of a handgun.
Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI has granted the motion of Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert Flores Jr. to set a change of plea hearing after the parties signed a plea agreement.
Judge Manglona scheduled the hearing for Aug. 14, 2023, at 1:30 p.m.
On June 28, 2022, a grand jury indicted Ikbal on the charge of “illegal alien in possession of firearm.”
According to the indictment, on or about May 5, 2022, Ikbal “then being an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, did unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly possess a firearm, to wit, a .40 caliber handgun, Glock model 22, serial number WHZ254, in and affecting interstate commerce.”
The indictment also included a notice of forfeiture. Upon conviction of Ikbal, “he shall forfeit to the United States pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(d) and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), any firearms and ammunition involved in the commission of the offense, including, but not limited to: .40 caliber, model Clock 22 handgun, serial number WHZ254.”
The warrant for Ikbal’s arrest was executed on June 13, 2022.
Ikbal is also accused of assaulting three individuals with a rebar in Rota. He has been charged in CNMI Superior Court with three counts of assault and disturbing the peace.
According to the information filed against Ikbal in the local court, on June 27, 2022, he threatened to hit MD Shahin Dhali, MD Subaz Sheikh, and MD Julas Rary with a piece of metal rebar.
He also disturbed them by yelling and threatening to damage the car they were in, the prosecution said.
On July 6, 2022, CNMI Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Bapari and set the bail amount at $2,500.
As of press time Tuesday, there was no new information regarding the local charges against Ikbal.
