By Vir B. Lumicao
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| One of the Indonesian DHs is charged with pretending to be a dentist |
Two Indonesian domestic workers who pleaded not guilty to
illegal work or pretending to be a dentist and doing dental works are to be tried in Shatin Court. They will appear
for a pre-trial review on Aug 9.
One denied a charge of breach of condition of stay and another of falsely pretending to be a dentist. The second only pleaded not guilty to the first charge.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Meta Yulianti and Dwi Retnowati entered their plea on Jul 11 before Magistrate Jason Wan, on the same day that two other Indonesian workers admitted the same charges.
The two other unnamed helpers were sentenced to four months and two months in jail, respectively, after admitting to breaching their condition of stay and doing illegal dental work.
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The first defendant who admitted both charges was jailed for four months. The second who only admitted breaching her visa condition was sentenced to two months in jail.
The four were arrested between Apr 15 and Apr 16 in their employers’ homes by Immigration officers who investigated complaints that they were providing illegal dental services, including installing dental braces and teeth cleaning.
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The Immigration Department said the four, aged from 31 to 35, had no dental training. Their employers were unaware of their illicit dental practice.
The four allegedly rented a room in a guesthouse on their rest days and holidays to perform dental work on fellow domestic helpers for a fee.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Seized from their room were business cards and an account book, which were presented as evidence.
Immigration said that apart from breaching their condition of stay, the helpers who practiced dentistry without training also endangered the health of their patients, and could possibly abet the spread of the coronavirus.
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Illegal practice of dentistry could result in a jail term of up to three years and a fine of $100,000.
