Derik Babauta, 27, was arrested on Rota based on a warrant issued by the Department of Public Safety on June 4. He was transported by DPS to Saipan.
The Superior Court ordered his release upon posting 10 percent of the modified $2,000 cash bail, or $200 and an unsecured bail of $1,800. The court orally ordered DPS officers to escort the defendant back to Rota.
In an affidavit, Detective Francis B. Manglona stated that DPS received a call from Freedom Air Station officer on May 26, 2008 reporting a possible theft incident at the Freedom Air Cargo office on Rota.
The airline officer showed the police officer who responded to the call copies of Airway Bills and money that were unaccounted for and missing.
The airline employee said the defendant was the only one who released the missing Airway Bills and the money was never collected by the Freedom Air office.
The employee said they made several calls to the defendant but he ignored their calls.
Manglona said he went to the defendant’s residence in Sinapalo 1 on May 28 and met Babauta who went with him to the police station for an interview.
Manglona added that the defendant said he had been working for Freedom Air for the past seven years.
Manglona said the defendant admitted taking the collections $600 from the Airway Bills collection in February and $800 collections in March.
The defendant said he used the money to pay for his debts and other personal needs.
