“Mr. Miura does not want to meet with the media — end of story,” Gov. Benigno R. Fitial told visiting Japanese journalists who went to his office yesterday afternoon to inquire if the local government could facilitate their orderly coverage of Miura’s journey back to L.A. where his wife was shot in the head by an unknown assailant in 1981.
The journalists, however, were told they are free to roam around the airport and the Department of Corrections to take their final photos or footage of the Japanese businessman whose case has been compared to that of football legend O.J. Simpson.
Japan acquitted Miura in 1998 of killing his wife.
The four LAPD agents, led by veteran detective Rick Jackson, are escorting Miura back to L.A.
The CNMI Superior Court turned over to Jackson Miura’s passport yesterday morning.
The governor thanked Miura and the Japanese journalists for their economic contributions to the CNMI’s tourism-based economy.
“Economically, he’s [Miura] an asset,” Fitial said.
Miura, who made history in Japan by winning an undetermined amount in his privacy lawsuit against major newspapers, wire agencies, TV networks and other publications in their country, drew many Japanese journalists to the island after his arrest on Feb. 22.
Over the seven-month period that Miura was here, Japanese journalists frequented Saipan — giving local hotels, restaurants, taxis, airlines and other establishments much needed customers.
“We’re inviting the Japanese media to come visit Saipan again — to do snorkeling. I want to thank them as well,” said the governor.
Miura hired three veteran CNMI attorneys for his defense — Bruce Berline, Mark Hanson and William Fitzgerald.
The three exhausted all legal remedies available to free Miura, thus, his extradition case was dragged on for seven months.
In the end, the argument of the prosecution team of Assistant Chief Prosecutor Jeffery Warfield Sr. and then-Assistant Attorney General Mike Nisperos that Miura should go to California prevailed.
Miura himself conceded that it’s time for him to go back to L.A. where he will continue to fight for his freedom.
Hollywood lawyer Mark Geragos is representing him there.
The governor said Miura’s extraordinary case showed the competence of the CNMI’s law enforcers and judicial system.
“I am very proud of our police force. They stepped up to the plate and performed well. I think Mr. Jeffery Warfield Sr. and Mr. Mike Nisperos also handled the case very well,” he said.
He noted though that although the Miura case brought renewed interest in Saipan among the Japanese public, his administration doesn’t want any more Japanese fugitives.
“We don’t want the CNMI to be marked as a haven for Japanese fugitives,” he said.
