With a bleeding nose, victim Norris Osiik Omengkar flagged down Patrol Officer Stanley Patris in Garapan.
Omengkar, who declined medical attention, said he was pumping air into the banana boat for tourists to ride when he was approached by Kapileo and Nores S. Langu, another defendant.
Omengkar was blamed by the two for “stealing customers.”
Omengkar said Langu held a shovel to hit him but it was Kapileo who punched him in the nose three times, according to Detective Peter Aldan.
The incident occurred in the Fiesta Resort beachside area, at the Saipan Trolling Concession stand, Aldan said.
“This kind of behavior should not be tolerated especially in front of visiting tourists to our island,” Aldan said.
Langu was also arrested, but Kapileo was the only one brought for initial appearance and bail hearing before Judge Kenneth Govendo on Wednesday afternoon.
Govendo retained the $5,000 cash bail imposed on Kapileo who is being held on charges of assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.
Kapileo was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after the hearing.
Assistant Attorney General Peter Prestley represented the government while Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke appeared for Kapileo.
