By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

A 28-year-old “tourist” was arrested and brought to the Superior Court for overstaying in the CNMI for more than one year.
Guangchun Ma, who is from China, was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after his bail hearing yesterday morning.
Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona imposed a cash bail of $1,000.
Ma was ordered to return to the court on May 17 for an order to show cause hearing at 1:30 p.m.
The affidavit of Immigration Investigator John Peter stated that Ma entered the CNMI as a tourist on Oct. 5, 2003 and was supposed to stay only until Nov. 4, 2003.
Ma applied for foreign student entry status on Nov. 5, 2003 but the entry permit was never issued.
The affidavit stated Ma failed to renew his tourist status and failed to comply with the requirements of his entry permit.
Ma was allowed only until July 15, 2005 to apply for employment status.
He has been eluding immigration officers and has overstayed here for a year and eight months.