“We are happy [because] we are out of jail this time. We are still waiting [for the Supreme Court’s ruling] for our appeal,” said Yana in a phone interview.
He added that he and attorney Antonio Atalig have already submitted their briefs to the court.
Declining to talk about the merits of the case, Yana said he was happy that he was out, especially during the holidays with his family.
“I spent time with my family,” Yana said.
After spending over a year in prison for civil contempt of court, Yana and Atalig were released on Christmas Eve from the Department of Corrections facility after CNMI Supreme Court Associate Justice John A. Manglona issued an order that stayed the judgment of Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo.
“While the question of whether Atalig and Yana still `hold the keys’ to their release is currently being contested on appeal, what appears uncontested it that incarceration has caused [them] the many hardships inherent in serving a jail sentence,” Manglona ruled.
For their failure to return $1.3 million in attorney’s fees that they received from the Angel Malite estate, Govendo cited them for civil contempt.