A Filipina tourist who had overstayed her visa for nine and a
half years was jailed fir six months after pleaded guilty on Dec 24 to a charge
of breach of condition before a magistrate in Shatin.
Luzviminda Lazaro admitted the charge as she faced Principal
Magistrate Andrew Ma for a second time in 20 days.
The prosecution report read in court said Lazaro arrived in Hong
Kong in mid-2005 as a tourist and did not leave the SAR before her visa
expired. She worked illegally in local restaurants and was arrested on Dec 2.
On her first appearance before Magistrate Ma on Dec 4, Lazaro’s
lawyer applied for bail, telling the court the defendant came to Hong Kong
because there were threats on her life arising from a land dispute back home.
Ma, however, rejected Lazaro’s bail application and remanded her
in custody because she could not present evidence to prove her claim.
The magistrate set nine months as starting point for his sentence
on Lazaro, meaning one month for each year that she overstayed, then reduced it
by one-third because the defendant pleaded guilty.
Lazaro is expected to pursue her application for asylum when has
served out her sentence. She has filed an application under the United Nations
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment.
