Hai Ying Jiang, through attorney Joe Hill, also named respondents Attorney General Edward T. Buckingham, DPS Commissioner Ramon C. Mafnas, and the CNMI government, jointly and severally.
The defendants have yet to submit their responses in local court.
Jiang said his vehicle, valued at $6,000, was “in defendants’ possession and was wrongfully detained by defendants….”
Hill said the vehicle was taken by defendants without consent of his client.
In his declaration, Jiang said he learned that his vehicle was impounded and has been held by the AGO and DPS since July 20, 2010.
Jiang said he bought his 2003 Toyota Corolla in June 2010.
Jiang said Hong Wang told him he needed a car because Wang’s own vehicle had been stolen, and he would be willing to pay $400 a month for using Jiang’s car.
It was not mentioned what was the relationship between Jiang and Wang.
On July 20, 2010, police authorities arrested Wang for possession of controlled substance, trafficking of controlled substance, and conspiracy to trafficking of controlled substance.
A cooperating source told police Wang traded “ice” for stolen items, such as laptops, PSP, pieces of jewelry, I-phones, digital cameras or PS3.
Last April, Wang pled guilty to one count of illegal possession of a controlled substance, while the AGO moved for the dismissal for the other charges.
In exchange, Wang will serve 18 months in prison, without parole, with credit for time served.
Jiang said he was “never told or knew that [his] vehicle was to or would be used in any illegal drug transactions or trafficking activity or in any illegal acidity.”
Jiang said his continued requests for release of his vehicle by DPS or the AGO have been denied. He was also not informed for how long his vehicle would be impounded.
Jiang said he never gave permission or consented to the use of his vehicle in any drug or other illegal activities.
He said his vehicle was kept in an unsafe place outside DPS and not protected from the elements, in an unfenced and unguarded area, subject to damage and vandalism.
Jiang said as a result of the impounding, he paid for a rent a car since Sept. 2010 through June 2011.
“I need and use the vehicle in daily activities and to transport my kids to school and I request the immediate release and return of my vehicle and compensation for the expenses incurred in renting a car during the unlawful detention/confiscation and loss of my vehicle from Sept. 2010 to June 2011,” Jiang stated.
