A Superior Court judge in the Northern Marianas has ruled that the former attorney general, Edward Buckingham, is no longer a fugitive from justice.
However, he may have violated the conditions of his bail in the US state of Colorado where he was arrested earlier this month.
Jamie Tahana reports.
"Edward Buckingham surrendered himself to authorities in Saipan yesterday in a surprise return to the Northern Marianas. The charges he faces include misuse of a government agency to support former governor Benigno Fitial's election campaign, violating election laws, misconduct in public office and obstruction of justice. He pleaded not guilty when he appeared in the Superior Court at Saipan and posted bail of 50,000 US dollars. But the lead prosecutor , George Hasselback, says one of the conditions of his bail in Colorado was to not leave the state without the court's permission. Mr Buckingham was due to appear in court in Colorado on June the 10th."
