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Back Local News Feds join Blue House probe

Feds join Blue House probe

Thursday, 11 Oct 2012 03:00am
BY ZITA Y. TAITANO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
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THE U.S. Attorney’s Office has joined the Guam Police Department and Attorney General’s Office in the Blue House investigation.


U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco has already met separately with Police Chief Fred Bordallo and Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas to discuss the probe on alleged GPD involvement in the Blue House human trafficking case. Limtiaco has also pledged cooperation between federal and local entities reviewing the case.

Bordallo confirmed the meeting with Limtiaco was held. “She offered her support along with the support of federal law enforcement. I also told her the Guam Police Department will cooperate in any federal investigation her office or other federal agencies may have in this Blue House case,” Bordallo said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the leadership of Limtiaco, prosecuted the case for a little more than two years.

Blue House owner Song Ja Cha was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution to the victims she employed. Co-defendants and former employees Saknin Weria and Freda Eseun were also sentenced to three years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service.

The three women still have to face local charges in Superior Court. A trial is set for Nov. 12. Cha has filed an appeal on her case with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

 

Comments  

 
0 #5 RAPCON 2012-10-12 15:56
Amazing! This bandwagon is getting full, it sounds like no one wants to be the one guy who did not participate when it's found out that there really was wrongdoing going on at the blue house. These knee jerk reactions are comical at best. They were hoping this issue would go away but now that it's in the forefront, everyone wants a piece of it, everyone wants credit, I say little to late, you all have my personal vote for clowns of the year!
 
 
+1 #4 therapist 2012-10-11 13:27
Unbelievable. Alicia could've took the case all the way back to the police officers but did nothing and said nothing until everyone else came up to the podium.

How to get US Attorney Alicia Limtiaco to work:
Three weeks of media investigation/reports. Check.
Governor intervention. Check.
GPD to redo investigation. Check.
AGO to participate in investigation. Check.

Alternative method:
Please have entire legal case prepped and shrink-wrapped for prosecution.
 
 
+1 #3 Da 2012-10-11 10:16
Yes, Nita is absolutely right, there has been hard evidence forwarded to her office to shed light on election fraud and the manipulations by the former local AG's office and the public auditor to falsify reports to indict a former Governor.

What is it to make you come out of you closet, evidence or a public out cry?

We should never have voted for you to get into office, you are not doing the work required by the taxpayers and pocket a very high salary.
We should start cutting right here, since most of are useless.
 
 
0 #2 Mathew 2012-10-11 08:19
So far, those who have been weighing in, publicly, on holding accountable police officers (and others) who might have been complicit in aiding and abetting the crimes that were committed in the high profile case tend to be those from the mainland who have made Guam their home. While I applaud them for doing so, I have yet to see them hold their own party and own church accountable, publicly, given the corrupt nature of those two entities as evidence show and listed by media reports over the last decade or so.

There are reasons why some local folks point to the mainland and say that it is worse there in terms of indebtedness, corruption, etc. One obvious reason is to deflect from the level of indebtedness and corruption that is present on Guam, while the other not-as-obvious reason is that it is more difficult to hold "your own" accountable. This premise holds true, anywhere, in any country, municipality, etc., on any issue and folks who are not as "attached" to the local scenery are the ones who tend to help move the needle -- in the right direction.

As it has been said before, it is important to keep your friends close, but it is just as important to keep your enemies closer. Or, in other words, your critic is your best friend. Especially these days when you can always go to your own corner space which is occupied by your own party, own church and own media. All repeating the same thing, true or otherwise.
 
 
+7 #1 nita 2012-10-11 06:10
Ok now Alicia is this what is required for your office to investigate complaints? The media has to ask for it! How about getting to the root of this administration's problem. Why not investigate those complaints sent to your office as you have asked the public to do during the 2010 elections. Names were given to you Alicia of those CNMI voters who voted here in Guam as well. Are you condoning their actions? Will the 2014 gubernatorial election fraud be permitted to be repeated? It will because you are turning a blind eye. The media will not call for you to investigate because it is against the most powerful family in Guam. One day you will wake up and look around and you will rue that decision because Guam has become "lawless!"
 

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