by Mindy Aguon

Guam - There are more legal troubles to report for the Overseas Chinese Association Center, as the non-profit organization, accused of illegal gambling and money laundering, is accused of falling behind on paying its bills. While the feds pursue seizing assets of the organization, one local business has filed suit to have the organization kicked-off their property.

Guam International Country Club and the Overseas Chinese Association Center had entered into an agreement in January of last year where the non-profit organization leased the second floor clubhouse of the GICC in Dededo. The lease was supposed to be for three years to expire on December 31 of next year, but according to court documents, the organization hasn't made a payment since last November. The agreement, filed as an attachment in the civil suit, filed in the Superior Court back in April, indicates that OCAC agreed to pay $10,000 a month for rent to lease the second floor to run a bingo operation.

According to the facilities agreement, OCAC leased the 2nd floor of the clubhouse for bingo and GICC in turn provided all of the equipment including chairs, tables and other furniture. GICC also provided security personnel to escort bingo patrons.

The country club, however, has now asked a superior court judge to issue a judgment against the organization for immediate eviction, unpaid rent, restitution for any damage to the premises, damages for unpaid rent to be proven at trial, and the costs of the lawsuit and attorneys fees.

While the lawsuit was filed back in April, GICC apparently has been trying to reach the members of the organization for months to serve notices of default. The organization's president is listed Betsy Tang Ho, but when process servers attempted to serve her notice, they found that she had been off island for several months.

They also tried to serve the organization's other board members listed as Jimmy Hsieh and Young Kevin Joo at the Royal Orchid Hotel where the Center had also been running other bingo activities, but they found that operations had been vacated. They also tried the Crazy Horse Night Club but were told the establishment has been abandoned for several months. A declaration attached to the complaint indicates that it is rumored the three individuals fled the island after a federal investigation and seizure of bank accounts.

As we reported, the FBI conducted several raids at establishments where the organization was known to operate and they've pursued the seizure of numerous bank accounts that the feds contend have proceeds from illegal gambling and money laundering.

GICC's lawsuit meanwhile comes at a time when its own landlord, the Chamorro Land Trust Commission, is going after the company for delinquency as well. According to news files, GICC owes $200,000 in rent to the Commission and hasn't paid real property taxes since its inception in 1990. The Commission is looking to resolve the matter with a payment plan. As for GICC's lawsuit against the OCAC, the matter is still pending as the organization has yet to submit an answer to the suit.