Jury trial set for woman accused of forging work visa

Posted on Apr 02 2021

The U.S. District Court for the NMI will hold a jury trial for a woman who has been accused of forging a U.S. work visa for employment.

Magistrate judge Heather L. Kennedy ordered a jury trial last March 31 for Svetlana M. Maala. The jury date is scheduled for June 8, 2021.

The federal government said that Maala “knowingly forged, counterfeited, altered, and falsely made a nonimmigrant visa…as evidence of authorized stay and employment in the United States.” It added that Maala attempted to use the fraudulent visa on or about June 7, 2018, as evidence of authorized stay and employment in the U.S.

Maala is also being charged with one count of fraud and misuse of visa, but she pleaded not guilty to the charge. She was released by the court on her own personal recognizance.

Maala, through her court-appointed attorney, Colin Thompson, waived her right to an indictment and waived the advisement of her constitutional rights as well as the reading of the charges against her.

Justine Nauta | Correspondent

Justine Nauta is Saipan Tribune's community and health reporter and has covered a wide range of news beats, including the Northern Marianas College and Commonwealth Health Care Corp. She's currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation and Human Services at NMC.

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