Court drops 2 charges vs. woman who allegedly supplied garment company with illegal workers
Saipan Tribune, Micronesia
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
The Superior Court has dismissed two charges against the person who allegedly provided Rifu Apparel in San Vicente with undocumented Chinese workers.
During preliminary hearing, associate judge David Wiseman found no probable cause to charge Zhen Juan Zhang with one count of smuggling of persons and one count of illegal subcontract employment.
The judge, however, found probable cause to charge Zhang with employment of illegal aliens.
No preliminary hearing was held for Zhang’s co-defendant Shunji Li because the defendant posted $10,000 cash bail for her temporary liberty.
On May 10, authorities raided Rifu in San Vicente and arrested 29 persons, including Li and Zhang.
Zhang, 34, allegedly provided Li with the undocumented illegal Chinese workers.
Li, 41, was the one who allegedly hired, supervised, and paid the illegal workers.
The Attorney General’s Office charged Li and Zhang with smuggling of persons, illegal subcontract employment, and employment of illegal aliens.
Assistant Attorney General Kevin Lynch stated in court papers that on May 10, the defendants harbored six aliens, who entered or remained in the Commonwealth in violation of law.
Lynch said the defendants unlawfully offered for employment six alien workers without unapproved or unauthorized contract or subcontract with another employer.
He said the defendants employed 24 aliens while knowing that they do not have lawful documentation and authority to be so employed for employment.
