CNMI court rejects IPI appeal against gaming licence suspension
The court has reaffirmed the CCC’s decision to suspend IPI’s casino licence for failing to comply with regulatory orders.
Northern Mariana Islands.- The Supreme Court of the Northern Mariana Islands has rejected an appeal by casino operator Imperial Pacific International Holdings against the suspension of its gaming licence in Saipan. Superior Court associate judge Wesley Bogdan has upheld the Commonwealth Casino Commission’s decision to suspend IPI’s casino licence and impose penalties.
Last April, the Commonwealth Casino Commission ordered IPI to pay a penalty of US$6.6m on top of an annual casino exclusive licence fee of US$15.5m and regulatory fees of US$3.1m.
IPI applied for judicial review of the CCC’s decision to suspend its casino licence. In its request, IPI said the commission’s order was “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and not in accordance with the law, as the CCC did not consider, determine or reasonably base that order upon the appropriate application of principles of force majeure under Commonwealth law.” However, the court has found no error in the commission’s order.
US Marshals Service seizes funds from IPI
The US Marshals Service has seized $9,386.66 from IPI‘s Saipan bank account by writ of execution in order to comply with a judgment on behalf of Red Coral Corporation. Red Coral, represented by attorney Colin Thompson, had sued IPI for failing to pay leases on a 20-unit apartment complex between January 2019 and August 2019.
