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| Gabato was ordered jailed for 20 weeks at West Kowloon Court |
A 43-year-old Filipina former domestic helper was sentenced
to 20 weeks in jail today, Jul 16, in West
Kowloon Court
Bella Gabato, who was charged with breach of condition of
stay, was sentenced by Magistrate Winnie Lau, who said the offense called for
immediate imprisonment.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
Prosecution said Gabato came to Hong
Kong to work as a domestic helper and was supposed to leave sometime
in 2014 after her contract was terminated prematurely by her employer. But
instead of going home, she remained here illegally.
Gabato was arrested in Shamshuipo last month during a street
check by police. She reportedly tried to run away but the officers caught up
with her.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
During a body search, the officers found a plastic packet tucked
under her bra, but a laboratory examination found no trace of dangerous drugs.
The defense counsel appealed for a lenient sentence, saying that
the defendant, a mother of two girls aged 20 and 15, was the sole breadwinner in
the family. She is separated from her husband.
Aside from supporting her two daughters, she has provided
for the needs of her 86-year-old mother in the Philippines
Magistrate Lau said that after considering the facts of the
case, including Gabato’s long period of illegal stay, as well as her guilty
plea, an immediate custodial sentence was unavoidable.
