Woman charged for overstaying

Catalina Serroco appeared for arraignment on July 7 and through her counsel Chief Public Defender Garth Backe waived reading of the information and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of one count of unlawfully remaining in the Republic of Palau.Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong set the status conference for September 12 at 11:15 a.m. at the Melekeok chambers.The information filed to the Supreme Court by Assistant Attorney General Lori Ann Zucco stated that Serroco “from on or about February 24, 2008 to June 10, 2008, and on going, not being a citizen or legal resident of the Republic, did remain willfully and unlawfully after expiration of entry authorization.”The affidavit of Bureau of Immigration officer Lovelynson Wally stated that Serroco, a Filipino citizen, came to Palau on a tourist visa on September 16,2007.The affidavit stated that Serroco’s tourist visa expired on January 25, 2008.The defendant was issued a Notice of Overstay and Fine on February 13, 2008 and was ordered to depart Palau in ten days.The affidavit stated that Serroco did not depart Palau within ten days of the Notice of Overstay.The affidavit stated that as of the date of the filing of this affidavit, Serroco is still in Palau in violation of the immigration laws and regulations for visitors to Palau.