The former governor of the Northern Marianas, Benigno Fitial, has had ten criminal charges filed him after his first appearance in the territory's Superior Court.
The charges relate to the unauthorised release of a federal prison inmate, the awarding of a sole-source contract, and shielding the former attorney general, Edward Buckingham, from being served a penal summons in 2012.
Mr Fitial resigned as governor in February last year days after being impeached, before fleeing with his wife for the Philippines a day later.
He returned to Saipan on Saturday, but will return to the Philippines on Wednesday to continue medical treatment.
