CCC seeks immediate revocation of IPI casino licence
Andrew Yeom, Commonwealth Casino Commission executive director, has filed four complaints against IPI and demanded the immediate and final revocation of the casino operator’s gaming licence.
Northern Mariana Islands.- Andrew Yeom, CCC’s executive director, has called for Imperial Pacific International’s (IPI) gaming licence should be permanently revoked. According to Yeom, IPI failed to comply with CCC’s final order in four enforcement actions that were entered over five months ago.
Imperial Pacific International’s (IPI) gaming licence has already been suspended indefinitely as the operator failed to comply with regulatory orders. The Commonwealth Casino Commission board ordered IPI to pay a penalty of US$6.6m, an annual casino exclusive licence fee of US$15.5m and annual casino regulatory fees of US$3.1m.
However, according to Yeom, the casino operator failed to pay the US$3.1m casino regulatory fee on Oct. 1, 2020, and subsequently on March 3, 2021. The company also failed to pay the US$15.5m annual exclusive casino license fee on Aug. 12, 2020, and subsequently on Aug. 12, 2021.
Yeom said: “Unfortunately, the very violations that triggered the suspension are still mounting while IPI has done nothing to indicate any willingness to come into compliance with the aforementioned final order.”
He added that unless IPI meets the regulations, there will be more enforcement actions in October.
“To this point, we have found a way each cautious way to give IPI the full fair treatment as per our law, expecting IPI to come into consistence, however without much of any result.”
Andrew Yeom, Commonwealth Casino Commission executive director.
Former IPI lawyer may sue the company
IPI could face another lawsuit, this time from its former lawyer, Michael W. Dotts. According to Saipan Tribune, the former IPI attorney said the company has yet to pay him his fees, which total US$140,000.
Dotts said: “I do not believe IPI is going to pay. I believe I now need to file suit and join IPI’s other creditors. With each missed payment, I contacted IPI management and advised that if the payments went unpaid, I would suspend work and move to withdraw as counsel.”
The attorney advised Ray Yumul, IPI CEO, that if the company didn’t make a substantial payment toward what is owed, he would move to pull out as counsel in all leftover matters where he is addressing IPI. Yumul said that he was searching for a substitute but the company hasn’t announced a substitute counsel.
NMI Chief Judge Ramona Manglona has allowed Dotts’ solicitation to pull out from representing IPI in the complaint filed by the US Department of Labor.
Manglona said: “Dotts has fulfilled his obligation under this court’s local rules and has provided the proper notice to IPI. The court also finds that granting the motion would not prejudice other parties, cause harm to the administration of justice, delay resolution of the case, or prejudice other litigants.”
