18 Mar 2014

Former governor Fitial expected back in CNMI in April

4:26 pm on 18 March 2014

The former CNMI governor, Benigno Fitial, is expected back in the Northern Marianas next month, after being summoned by a judge to appear in court at the end of April.

An associate judge of the Superior Court, Judge David Wiseman, has quashed an arrest warrant for Mr Fitial in exchange for his voluntary return to the territory.

Mr Fitial faces charges for shielding the convicted former attorney general Edward Buckingham from being served with a penal summons.

Judge Wiseman says pre-trial conditions will be discussed at the time the former governor appears in court.

Last month, Buckingham was found guilty of all public corruption charges except one and sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

The sentence was suspended.