12 Mar 2013

Former CNMI governor Fitial to appear in court on first Monday

4:12 pm on 12 March 2013

The Superior Court in the Northern Marianas has issued a penal summons against the former governor, Benigno Fitial, in connection with an alleged conspiracy.

Mr Fitial, who resigned last month, has been summoned over allegations he and other officials conspired to shield a former attorney general, Edward Buckingham, from being given a penal summons last August.

Last week, the governor, Eloy Inos, requested that Mr Buckingham be extradited from the US state of Iowa.

Our correspondent, Mark Rabago, says it is not known when Mr Fitial will have to appear in court, or where he is.

"Associate Judge David Wiseman has ordered the (former) governor to respond to the summons by first Monday. But it's not clear whether the first Monday is the first Monday after he receives the summons or the first Monday of the month. There are reports that he is in San Diego, California recuperating from his back ailments, or he could be in the Philippines, where his wife is from."

Mark Rabago says the charges Mr Fitial has been summoned for are different to the charges that he was impeached on when he was Governor.