The SUN HK : Filipina appears in DC, charged with stealing 40 jewelry pieces from employer

31 March 2023

By The SUN

It was the first time that the accused appeared in the District Court

No plea was taken from Ligaya Ao-wat Banisal, who turned 43 years old in custody, and she was returned to jail after the prosecution asked for more time to study the case.

The court list had earlier indicated Banisal was set to enter a plea,

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Judge C.P. Pang ordered the case set down for mention again on May 18, and told Banisal that she will need to return to court on that day, during which a Tagalog interpreter will again be provided for her.

Pindutin para sa detalye

It was the first time for Banisal to appear in the District Court, after her case was transferred from the Kwun Tong Magistracy on Mar 9.

The transfer indicated the more serious nature of her case.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

At the District Court, an accused can be imprisoned for up to 10 years, compared to the usual maximum sentence of two years imposed in a magistrate’s court. The monetary claim in the case should also be more than $75,000 but should not exceeed $3 million.

Banisal was arrested on October 16 last year and charged with one count of theft two days later.

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She is accused of stealing several pieces of jewelry from a flat on the 38^th floor of Hemera in Lohas Park, Tseung Kwan O, between about November 2021 and October 2022.

During earlier hearings, the prosecution said the jewelry stolen comprised of 18 gold bangles, 2 gold necklaces, 5 gold bracelets, 2 rings, 4 gold rings and 9 necklaces, all belonging to employer Hui Sau-ling.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The court was told then that the prosecution was still awaiting word on whether some of the jewelry that was lost could still be redeemed from pawnshops where the accused had allegedly taken them.