Businessman charged for overstaying

Bernardo M. Gopez Jr., appeared for arraignment on Friday with counsel Benjamin Carter and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of unlawfully remaining in the Republic of Palau.Gopez waived reading of the information and was released on his own recognizance.Assistant Attorney General Anthony DeRuiz stated in the information he filed in court that Gopez “from on or about July 18, 2008 to July 28, 2008, and ongoing did and does remain willfully and unlawfully after expiration or revocation of entry authorization.”The information stated that Gopez overstay after the revocation of his investor visa.The affidavit of probable cause submitted to court by Immigration officer Mathew Elbelau stated that Gopez a Filipino citizen was doing business in Palau as Palau Independent Freight Forwarding Service.He was issued Investment visa on April 11, 2005.On April 3, 2008, the FIB revoked his visa and his time for an appeal has passed.On July 18, 2008, a Notice of Revocation of Investor Visa was issued to Gopez and he was ordered to depart from Palau within 30 days.The affidavit stated that Gopez did not depart Palau as of the filing of the affidavit. The affidavit stated that he is still in Palau without a valid visa, a violation of the law.