Pinay on probation for entering into fake marriage in CNMI - report

MANILA, Philippines - The Superior Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas has imposed a probation sentence on a Filipina found to have entered into a fake marriage, an online report said. The Saipan Tribune reported on Thursday that Associate Judge David A. Wiseman has sentenced Lorna de Luna, also known as Lorna de Luna Camacho, to one year in prison, all suspended, for marriage fraud and placed her on supervised probation for one year. Charged with marriage fraud and obstructing justice, De Luna has consented to deportation at her expense within 21 days of the date of the order. The judge has also ordered De Luna to pay a $50 or more than P2,400 fine, a $100 or about P4,900 court assessment fee, and her permit and immigration fees for the years 2007 and 2008 totaling to $275 or more than P13,000 before attempting to or leaving CNMI for good. The Filipina is also reportedly required to help law enforcement officers in any ongoing investigations regarding the prosecution of her co-defendants. According to the Attorney General’s Office, De Luna and Bonifacio M. Camacho knowingly entered into a marriage on October 31, 2007 for the sole purpose of obtaining labor and immigration benefits. Moreover, De Luna and a Nicolas C. Figuerres Jr. allegedly tampered with a witness on August 1, 2008. De Luna and her counsel Richard Pierce signed a plea agreement with the government that would move to dismiss the obstruction of justice charge for a guilty plea. The court has granted the motion, said the news report. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV