Prominent local businessman Ignacio Anastacio, the brother of House Speaker Sabino Anastacio, faced one count of assault for allegedly striking a foreign worker in the face. The alleged events occurred on November 27, 2013. Mr. Anastacio was released on his own recognizance, but was ordered not to strike, threaten or harass the alleged foreign-worker victim. The case was before the Court of Common Pleas and a trial commenced on February 3, 2014, where he was ordered to serve 35 hours of community service, pay restitution and remain on 6-months unsupervised probation.
In other courtroom news, the Attorney General recently filed a civil action against Everett Belelai, the son of House Speaker Anastacio. Belelai was sued for breach of contract and conversion in relation to his alleged lack of performance on the installation of a border management system for the Bureau of Immigration.
The contract value was for more than $73,000 and the Complaint alleges that Belelai received more than $50,000 from the Republic as the first payment. The Complaint also asserts that Belelai took possession of government property, such as hardware and software, and still has not returned the property. Attorney Salvador Remoket is representing Belelai. During the time of the oversight hearing, Belelai had not yet filed a response to the lawsuit.
Both relatives of the House Speaker were prosecuted within months of the highly controversial public hearing on Human Trafficking where the Speaker attacked the AG and accused her of failing to do her job.
It is uncertain if these cases involving the Speaker’s family influenced his actions before the House Judiciary and Government Affairs oversight hearing when he and other delegates blasted Attorney General Roe on the U.S. Trafficking In Persons report.