“America is a place of freedom and equality, but I have never seen these on Saipan,” Wei Lin said in open court through an interpreter during his sentencing hearing Friday morning. He was in a wheel chair due to arthritis.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced Wei Lin to time served at the CNMI Department of Corrections facility since April 12, 2011 after federal jurors convicted him last August.
The U.S. government recommended time served for Wei Lin whose sentencing range was from zero to six months. The defense concurred.
After Manglona reminded him of the implications of his testimony under oath as well as his pending alien smuggling case, Wei Lin, assisted by an interpreter, proceeded with his statement to the court, sharing his experience at the Corrections facility.
Wei Lin, a student, said he was a victim after being “tricked” into coming to Saipan.
He said he was treated in jail “without human rights.”
“I could not eat the food being served,” he told the court.
Wei Lin said his arthritis deteriorated while in jail. He said he complained of stomach ache and requested to see a doctor, but he was ignored.
They didn’t care about his condition, Wei Lin said, referring to Corrections officials.
He sought the assistance of his attorney, Joseph James N. Camacho, who informed the court about it. Wei Lin said he was brought to the hospital, but was not provided with an interpreter, so he didn’t get proper treatment.
He asked the court for humanitarian assistance.
Corrections officials had yet to respond to inquiries of this reporter.
Wei Lin recalled that he signed a plea agreement and brought a ticket to return to China, but he was still arrested at the Saipan international airport.
They “did not fulfill their promise,” Wei Lin said, referring to the prosecution.
Wei Lin said the prosecution is asking him to sign an agreement without evidence.
“I am not involved, how can I be guilty?” Wei Lin told the court, referring to his alien smuggling case.
While at the hospital, Wei Lin said he saw one of the jurors who “covered her face and ran.”
Wei Lin asked why the former juror couldn’t face him. The person was probably feeling guilty, Wei Lin said.
Wei Lin, who was found guilty by a jury, said his trial “wasted taxpayer money” on an “innocent alien.”
“Please respect taxpayers. [It’s] hurting your own people and government. Can’t you feel being guilty?” Wei Lin asked.
Wei Lin said there are no secrets and one day people will know the truth.
He said his father is ill and he wanted to return to China.
Manglona said all defendants are given a fair trial which is never done in secret.
She said it was “very unfortunate” that Wei Lin “did not have the benefit of a proper interpreter.”
But she said the sentence imposed on Wei Lin was appropriate.
Camacho said Wei Lin informed him they will file an appeal next week.
Wei Lin pleaded not guilty to one count of foreign labor contracting fraud conspiracy, four counts of foreign labor contracting fraud, one count of alien smuggling conspiracy — encouraging, five counts of alien smuggling — encouraging, one count of alien smuggling conspiracy — harboring, and five counts of alien smuggling — harboring.
Manglona granted the prosecution’s oral motion to continue Wei Lin’s detention for being a flight risk.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Beverly R. McCallum is prosecuting the alien smuggling case against Wei Lin who has been accused of bringing in five Chinese nationals to the Northern Marianas as “tourists” but were promised to work as waitresses, cleaners or taxi driver.
