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Court denies dismissal motion
Tuesday,
May 6, 2008
Associate Justice Lyle Richmond today denied a motion by the attorney for Businessman George Neru to dismiss the case against him.
Neru is charged with bribery of a public servant. The government is accusing him of offering $500 to police officers investigating the sale of stolen property to a store in Iliiili last year. According to the government Neru asked the cops not to arrest the female owner of CCG Store. The officer who was allegedly offered the bribe Lt. Fuifatu testified at Neru's trial today. He said Neru told him at the CCG store that there is a pending court case against his Chinese children relating to missing computers. He said Neru asked 'for
assistance' and added that after their conversation, he'll tell his children to give him $500.
Fuifatu said he didn't accept Neru's offer. On cross-examination, Fuifatu admitted that he didn't include in the affidavit in support of an arrest warrant the conversation he had with Neru at CCG. He said he did mention the computer case and the part in which Neru made the offer to give him $500. After the officer testified, Neru’s attorney Sharon Rancourt moved to dismiss the charges against her client. She said the government didn't meet the elements of the bribery charge. Prosecutor Assistant Attorney General Faamomoii Masaniai said there's enough evidence, based on Fuifatu's testimony, to go to the jury. Judge Richmond denied the motion. The defense will call its witnesses tomorrow.
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