Ex-musician pleads guilty to $5.5M money laundering, jumping bail

 

Ledesma after District Court hearing on Jan. 4, 2024 (File photo)

A former musician who pleaded guilty Friday (November 13) after earlier denying a charge of laundering euros and US dollars totaling HK$5.5 million through his bank account and then jumping bail after appearing in court, is back in jail after being remanded by the District Court.

Judge G. Lam adjourned the case to December 11 to hand down the sentence in the case of Jose Rizaldo Ledesma, also known as Jose Rizaido Ledesma and Tose Rizhido R. Leoesma.

Ledesma has been in jail since his arrest under a warrant for jumping bail, an additional charge, after not showing up on April 1 last year for the second of his three-day trial on the money laundering case.

Basahin ang detalye!

He had been charged with dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offense, contrary to section 25(1) and (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Ledesma was accused of dealing with €21,500 Euros and US$706,468.21 in his account with Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited between August 5, 2020 and October 21, 2020, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the property, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offense, acording to the police complaint.

He denied the first charge initially, saying he had lost control of his bank account after collecting his HK$10,000 Covid relief, months before the laundered money was found to have flowed through it.

The second charge, failing to surrender to custody without reasonable cause, contrary to section 9L(1) and (3) of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, arose after he did not show up for a hearing on April 1, 2025.

The police said Ledesma, “being a person admitted to bail, without reasonable cause, failed to surrender to custody as had been appointed by a court.”

Filipino seafarer charged with ‘disorderly conduct’ on plane

 

The incident happened aboard a Cathay Pacific flight to HK from Kaoshiung

A 28-year-old Filipino seafarer appeared before West Kowloon Court on Friday charged with engaging in disorderly conduct aboard an aircraft, after he allegedly tried to dash toward an exit door during a Cathay Pacific flight from Taiwan to Hong Kong.

Jessie Olbedo Hernandez asked for bail, but the court rejected his application. He was returned to jail custody until his next court appearance on January 8. Prosecutors asked for the proceedings to be adjourned to allow them time to get legal advice from the Department of Justice.

Court records show the incident happened on Wednesday aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX423, which was then traveling from Kaoshiung to Hong Kong.

Basahin ang detalye!

Hernandez reportedly suffered an emotional breakdown and pushed past a flight attendant, and attempted to get to one of the aircraft’s emergency doors. Flight attendants and a female passenger moved swiftly to subdue him, and kept him restrained until the aircraft landed safely in Hong Kong.

Some reports said he flashed a photo of his daughter, pulled out an envelope containing cash, and repeatedly shouted that he wanted to get off the plane.

The charge sheet alleges that the defendant’s act of engaging in disorderly conduct aboard a Hong Kong-controlled aircraft operating outside local airspace “jeopardized, or were likely to jeopardize, the good order and discipline on board the flight.”

Hernandez reserved his right to ask for a bail review within eight days from his court appearance.

Under Hong Kong law, unruly conduct aboard an aircraft is punishable with a maximum penalty of HK$10,000 fine and six months in prison for summary offences, and up to HK$100,000 in fine and 5 years in prison on an indictment.

Death of comatose Filipino leads to murder raps vs 2 compatriots

Mallanao was found on the steps of Jardine House

The charge of wounding with intent against two Filipinos held over the assault of a compatriot was elevated to murder on Thursday after their alleged victim was declared dead, five days after he was found unconscious in Central.

Friends said the plug to the machine that was keeping Bryan Cabaldo Mallanao alive was pulled after his wife who had flown in from the Philippines, gave consent.

Basahin ang detalye!

Doctors had earlier declared the 41-year-old driver "brain dead" as he never regained consciousness after being rushed to Queen Mary Hospital at about 9pm on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Charged with his death were his erstwhile friends Roderick Pagay Jumao-as, 44 years old and also a driver; and Armando Manding Remoring, 52, an asylum seeker, who were allegedly with him at Jardine House just before he was found, alone and wounded.

Photo of the victim before he was picked up

Jumao-as and Remoring both appeared at Eastern Court on Tuesday, each charged with wounding with intent. 

Prosecutors said then that the charge would likely be upgraded to murder as Mallanao was near-death.

No details of the alleged crime were mentioned in court, but the charge said Jumao-as and Remoring "unlawfully and maliciously" wounded Mallanao harm" “with intent to cause (him) grievous bodily harm.”

A police report issued earlier said a passerby had called for help after finding the victim unconscious on a pavement outside Jardine House at 1 Connaught Place.

Rescuers rushed him to Queen Mary Hospital but he never regained consciousness.

Mallanao never regained consciousness 

A friend who was among several people who went to the hospital the next day said they were told by a doctor that Mallanao suffered a severe wound in the head and that the prospect for his recovery was dim.

CCTV footage from the scene apparently led to the arrest on Sunday of Jumao-as in Kowloon City,  and Remoring in Wan Chai.

People who knew the three described them as friends who often hung out in Central to drink and watch online cockfighting.

Some unconfirmed reports said the dispute among the three started when Mallanao badgered Jumao-as about his poor alcohol tolerance, which resulted in the latter punching him, causing his head to hit the pavement. 

Remoring allegedly managed to throw punches at Mallanao as well, despite efforts by three other people who were at the scene to separate them. 

But after Mallanao fell unconscious all the five men fled, leaving him alone and wounded. 

Both defendants were sent back to jail after the court hearing, and were told that they could apply for bail on Nov. 18. 

The next hearing of the case has been set for Jan. 5, 2027.

Pinay jailed 5 months for conspiracy to defraud

 

Shatin Magistrates Court

A Filipina has been jailed for five months and one week after pleading guilty to two of three charges filed against her by the Imigration Department at Shatin Court, including presenting fake documents to get a new employment visa.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong sentenced Anabelle Waguis, 37 years old, to four weeks imprisonment for breach of condition of stay and five months and one week for conspiracy to defraud. He ordered that the two sentences run at the same time.

A third charge, making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining an entry permit, was dropped.

Basahin ang detalye!

Magistrate Cheang handed down the sentence in a hearing on Thursday (November 12).

The first charge, a violation of section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, arose after Waguis stayed on despite the September 22, 2022 deadline set by an Immigration Officer for her to leave, until she was arrested for overstaying on October 12, 2025.

The second charge, conspiracy to defraud contrary to Common Law and section 2(3) and 4(2) of Criminal Jurisdiction Ordinance and punishable under section 159C(6) of Crimes Ordinance, arose after she presented a fake employment contract to Immigration to apply for a new employment visa.

In its charge, Immigration said Waguis conspired together with a person known as Kate, to defraud the director of Immigration and his officers, “by entering into a foreign domestic helper contract and by dishonestly and falsely representing to the Director and his officers that (she) would work for Ng Yuk Man as a foreign domestic helper.”

The conspiracy induced the “director and his officers to act contrary to their public duty, namely to grant you the permission to remain in Hong Kong as a foreign domestic helper under circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted,” the charge added.

Filipino professionals form new group

 

Consulate officials with the Filipino professionals who heeded the call to form the PPO

Filipino professionals from various fields, including architecture, engineering, teaching, nursing and midwifery heeded a call from the Migrant Workers Office to gather on November 8 and form a group that will serve their mutual interests.

The new organization called the Philippine Professional Organization (PPO) Hong Kong was formed at the initiative of Labor Attache Cesar Chavez, and aims to bring professionals together not just for mutual support but also professional development and community engagement.

Interim president Brix Chico (with open palm) in huddle with fellow professionals

Elected to the PPO’s Interim Governing Council were Engr Brix Chico, president; Teacher Gemma Lauraya, vice-president; Arch. Josie Evangelista, secretary; Nurse Lorna Pagaduan, treasurer; Arch. Eljon Santos, auditor; and Engr. Joel Fernandez, public relations officer.

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The Council is tasked to lay the organization’s foundations, develop its governance structure, and prepare for the election of permanent officers.

The PPO complements other organizations in Hong Kong made up of professional and business leaders such as the Philippine Association of Hong Kong and the Philippine Bankers Club, and alumni associations from leading universities in the Philippines.

OFW leader and teacher Gemma Lauraya is interim VP

In his speech, Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel, Jr. hailed the establishment of the PPO as a historic milestone, not unlike Dr. Jose P. Rizal setting up practice in Hong Kong in the 1800s.

He urged members to foster unity, knowledge-sharing, networking, and mutual support through bayanihan and shared Filipino values, and welcomed the PPO as among the partner of the Philippine Consulate General and its attached agencies in advancing community interests.

Labatt Chavez who helped organize similar organizations in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Taipei, said PPO Hong Kong should not only promote mutual aid and protection but also support vulnerable overseas Filipinos.

He stressed that it would complement and strengthen—not replace—existing professional organizations.

 

 

Plea deferred for 27-year-old Filipina charged with cannabis trafficking

 

The 10.5 kilos of herbal marijuana found in Villarina's check-in baggage

A 27-year-old Filipina tourist arrested on arrival at Hong Kong International Airport last year on drug trafficking charges was returned to jail on Tuesday, Nov 10, without entering a plea as scheduled.

Aqueia Monique Villarina was arrested at Arrival Hall B of the HK Airport after flying in from Bangkok on Oct 18, 2025, with 10.469 kilos of cannabis in herbal form in her check-in baggage. She has been in jail since.

A press statement released by Hong Kong Customs Department that day said the 10.5kg of cannabis buds had an estimated market value of about HK$2.1 million.

Basahin ang detalye!

Villarin appeared in person before District Court Judge Ada Yim and was told that her case will be heard again on Feb.11, 2027 for mention.

Judge Yim ordered her returned to custody until then.

Drug Trafficking is an offence dealt with severely under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, Cap 134. The maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment and HK$5 million fine. Immediate imprisonment is prescribed.

However, the current sentencing guidelines recommend a slightly lower sentence where the drug involved is cannabis. For those found guilty of trafficking between 9 and 15 kilos of cannabis the prescribed starting point for the sentence is between 48 to 66 months’ imprisonment.

 

 

 

 

HK continues to reject visa applications by ‘job-hoppers’

 

HK Labour Department office in Sheung Wan

Hong Kong has continued to keep track of suspected “job hoppers” among foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), and has so far rejected the visa applications of 96 of them for this year alone, according to Labour Secretary Chris Sun in a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

The total number of rejections is already higher by three than the total figure recorded for the whole of 2025.

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Another 69 applications were withdrawn after Immigration initiated an investigation of 902 complaints made so far this year.

“Job hopping” is the term commonly used to refer to FDHs who prematurely terminate their contracts to change employers.

Sun says all suspected job-hopping cases are referred to a special team at Immigration

Statistics provided by Sun showed that over the past three years (as of October 2026), a special duties team at Immigration had investigated 3,303 employment visa applications from FDHs suspected of job-hopping. 

Of these, 455 applications were ultimately rejected while 259 were withdrawn by applicants or could not be followed up.

The investigation team formed in June 2013 is tasked to consider a number of factors in looking into suspected job-hopping cases, including the conduct of the FDHs, records of the FDHs and their former employers, and the reported reasons for premature termination of employment contracts.

According to Sun, case officers from the team will also, when necessary, contact the former employers and the applicants to verify the reasons for premature termination of contracts.

“For FDHs suspected of "job-hopping", the ImmD will decisively refuse their employment visa applications and ask them to leave Hong Kong. The ImmD will also retain their application records and take them into account when vetting future applications from the FDHs concerned for employment visas or extension of stay,” said Sun.

He was responding to questions raised by legislator Augustine Wong who also wanted to know if the Government would consider requiring employment agencies to bear the high cost of hiring a FDH on a pro-rata basis, when the helper terminates a contract without cause within three to six months.

Sun’s reply to this was that the Employment Agencies Code of Practice already provides that EAs are required to clearly state whether, in case of premature termination, they will provide a refund, arrange a replacement FDH or make other arrangements, and whether additional fees will be charged.

Employers are urged to look closely into the service agreement offered by EAs so they can make an informed choice on who they should be dealing with according to their needs.

Intermediaries that fail to comply with their undertaking under the Code may have their licenses revoked or renewal refused by the Labour Department, or be told to rectify their action.

 

Pinay fined for taking someone else’s cash from ATM

 

Tuen Mun law courts building

A domestic helper may have felt lucky when she found $900 in crisp bills in an automatic teller machine (ATM).

But she didn’t realize that when she took the money, she was recorded on CCTV, so she was identified and traced to her employer’s flat.

Last Tuesday (November 1), at Tuen Mun Court, Mary Jane Bautista, 53 years old, was convicted of theft, in violation of section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

Acting Principal Magistrate Jason Wan fined Bautista $1,000 and ordered her to pay $900 to the owner of the money, identified as Wong Kai Wing, as compensation.

The theft took place last October 10 at the ATM machine  of an HSBC branch in Sun Tuen Mun Shopping Centre, Lung Mun Road, Castle Peak, New Territories, in Hong Kong.

Pinay gets 3 months for conspiracy to defraud

 

Shatin Court

A Filipina who entered into a fake employment contract to be able to remain in Hong Kong and raise her two small chlldren, was jailed for three months today for conspiracy to defraud the Immigration Department.

Loyda Consejo, 35 years old, was convicted of an offence punishable under section 1590(6) of the Crimes Ordinance by Magistrate Raymond Wong at Shatin Court.

Magistrate Wong said the normal sentence is six months. With the one-third discount, this was reduced to four months. “Considering your young children, I give a further one month discount,” he added.

Basahin ang detalye!

Consejo admitted conspiring with other persons unknown, to defraud the Director of Immigration and his officers, “by dishonestly and falsely representing to the Director and his officers that (her) remaining in Hong Kong was for the purpose of taking up employment with Hong Ming Tak.”

The offense, which took place between an unknown day in 2024 and September 17, 2024 induced the director and his officers “to act contrary to their public duty. namely to grant (her) permission to remain in Hong Kong under circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted,” according to the complaint filed by the Immigration Department.

Before she was convicted, Magistrate Wong confirmed if she pleaded guilty, which she did in an earlier hearing, and whether she admitted the facts of the case. To both questions, she answered yes.

In mitigation, her lawyer said Consejo arrived in 2018 as a domestic helper, working as such until 2024.

However, she got pregnant and had a son and daughter, which led her to seek alternative arrangements so she could remain in Hong Kong legally and found an agent who could do so.

The offense did not give her any monetary gain, the lawyer said.

The two children are now in the care of various charitable institutions.

Visitor jailed 3 months for 12-year overstay

 

Eastern Magistrates' Court 

An unemployed Filipina was sentenced at Eastern Court today to three months and 20 days imprisonment for overstaying in Hong Kong for 12 years and 10 months.

Emelita Arista, 56 years old. had earlier pleaded guilty to breach of condition of stay overstay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

She had arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor and was permitted to remain in Hong Kong as a visitor until October 4, 2004, but remained until her arrest on February 19, 2017.

Basahin ang detalye!

Magistrate Gary Chu said Arista’s offense is serious and requires a sentence with a starting point of 12 months.

He deducted one third from the sentence for her guilty plea, plus the four months and 10 days of administrative detention at the Immigration Department in August 2018, Nov. 2018 and from July 25 to October 25, 2013.

5 overstayers among 25 people arrested in latest anti-illegal work raids

 

Items seized from people arrested for enganging in illegal construction work

A total of 25 people were arrested in the latest territory-wide operations meant to flush out illegal workers.

Among them were five overstayers and four recognizance paper holders, or asylum seekers.

The suspected illegal workers, including the asylum seekers and one found in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card comprised 10 men and nine women, aged 20 to 54.

Basahin ang detalye!

The overstayers were a man and four women, aged 29 to 39. A man aged 55 was also arrested on suspicion of employing the illegal workers.

An investigation into the alleged illegal employment is continuing, and further arrests may be made.

According to the Immigration Department the arrests were made during raids on multiple target locations including restaurants, flats under renovation and industrial buildings, from Oct 30 to Nov 8.

Immigration again warned that taking up work, whether paid or unpaid, is not allowed for tourists or those with visa restrictions like foreign domestic workers. The maximum penalty for offenders is two years in prison and a fine of up to HK$50,000.

Overstayers and asylum seekers face a more severe jail term of up to three years.

Possession of a forged HK identity card carries an even more severe penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of HK$100,000.

Employing illegal workers is an even more serious offense, which carried the maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of HK$500,000.

 

 

 

Murder charge eyed as Filipino driver assaulted in Central fights for life

 

Photo of Mallanao lying unconscious outside Jardine House posted on social media

Two Filipinos each being held on a charge of intentionally wounding a Filipino driver who was found unconscious outside Jardine House in Central on Saturday night, appeared before Eastern Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said the charge against Roderick Pagay Jumao-as, 44 years old and a driver; and Armando Manding Remoring, 52, an asylum seeker, may be upgraded to murder if their alleged victim described as already “brain-dead" succumbs to his wounds.

Police were called after Bryan Cabaldo Mallanao, 41 and also a driver, was found lying alone on a pavement with severe head injuries. He was rushed unconscious to Queen Mary Hospital where he remains in a coma.

Basahin ang detalye!

Jumao-as and Remoring, who were described as friends of the alleged victim, were picked up separately on Sunday. Jumao-as was arrested in Kowloon City and Remoring in Wan Chai.

Friends of the three said they had gathered near the Central Post Office at 1 Connaught Place to bet on online cockfighting and were drinking when they somehow ended up arguing, leading to a fisticuff and Mallanao being kicked.

In court, Jumao-as and Remoring were charged with “unlawfully and maliciously” wounding Mallanao “with intent to do grievous bodily harm” to him.

Mallanao with visible head wound remains unconscious at Queen Mary Hospital

They were told that if Mallanao succumbs to his injuries the charge against them would be elevated to murder. Both offenses carry the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Both defendants were remanded in jail until their next court appearance on Jan 5, 2027. They were told they could apply for bail on Nov. 18.

Ex-DH convicted of defrauding Immigration, sentencing put off

 

Shatin Magistrates Court

A former domestic helper was found guilty today after a trial at Shatin Court of conspiracy to defraud the director of Immigration into giving her an employment visa, by presenting a fake employment contract.

But Deputy Magistrate Ryan Sheung put off the sentencing of Annaliza Imatong, 32 years old, to November 23 pending a background report and to determine the appropriate penalty.

Imatong, who did not testify, was charged with conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law and punishable under section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

She was accused of conspiring with a person known as “James Lee” by dishonestly and falsely representing to the Immigration director and his officers, that her entries to and remaining in Hong Kong were for the purpose of working as a domestic helper of Chủ Hau Lìn, Angel.

She was pregnant at that time and was looking for an employer who would hire her despite her condition, and found Lee who charged her $15,000 for the service. They presented the papers to Immigration, but she eventually did not work for Chu even after giving birth.

The offense took place between an unknown day in 2023 and October 12, 2024 when she was arrested by Immigration officers as she was about to go to Macau.

Magistrate Sheung said he considered the testimonies of four Immigration officers honest and credible as against the claim of Imatong’s lawyer that her interview was unfair and that she was subjected to intimidation, oppression and inducement during the investigation.

For one thing, he said, she signed the transcript of the interview voluntarily.

Protest held as VP Sara meets with supporters in HK

 

Protesters say Duterte should face her impeachment trial instead of traveling abroad

Militant migrant workers held a lightning rally outside the Philippine Consulate in Admiralty on Sunday to protest a visit by Vice President Sara Duterte, and call for her impeachment.

Speakers at the rally said not all migrant workers were happy to welcome Duterte to Hong Kong, and told her that she should stop spending public funds on her frequent trips abroad.

The protesters led by Bayan HK and Macau, also said Duterte should instead face the Senate impeachment court, where she is charged with unexplained wealth, failing to provide an accurate statement of her assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and prohibited business interests.

Basahin ang detalye!

While the protest was ongoing, Duterte was meeting with her supporters from the Filipino migrant community.

At a gathering attended by more than 100 people at an events venue in Kwun Tong, she thanked her supporters for giving her a warm welcome on her fourth meeting with them, with the first one being held when her father, Rodrigo R. Duterte, was still the country’s president.

“Next year, dapat mas malaki pero kailangan natin ng one-year preparation,” (Next year should be bigger, but we need to prepare for it a year in advance), she said, apparently alluding to a plan to hold another mass event in Hong Kong to kick-start her campaign for the presidency in 2028.

Duterte was in Hong Kong from Friday, Nov. 6 to Sunday, Nov. 8, which her office said was a private visit that was to be funded entirely out of pocket.

VP Sara tells her supporters they should prepare for a bigger gathering next year

Before leaving the country, she had to secure a travel authority from the Office of the President and the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, where a case for grave threats against her is pending.

The charges relate to alleged threats she made during an online press briefing against President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Alluding to the charge, Duterte told her supporters that Tagalog-speaking Filipinos do not seem to understand the sense of humor of those from the Visayan region.

In a statement, Dolores Balladares of Unifil-Migrante HK asked why Duterte chose to fly to  Hong Kong when she should instead be traveling to the Senate which is just nearby, to respond to the impeachment charges against her.

“Tigilan na niya ang kababyahe. Harapin niya ang kaso ng pagwawaldas ng pera ng bayan at ipaliwanag ang natuklasang undeclared assets at bilyong halaga ng mga bank transactions niya at kanyang asawa,” said Balladares.

(She should stop her travels. She should answer charges of plundering public funds and explain the undeclared assets and billions of pesos worth of bank transactions in her name and that of her husband).

A forensic expert told the Senate impeachment court that Duterte had undisclosed assets of between Php817 million and Php1.5 billion based on the evidence presented by the prosecution.

Duterte’s lawyers are due to start presenting her defense to the charges before the impeachment court today, Monday.