DMW reports taking down 250k online recruitment scam posts

 

DMW USec Darlene Pajarito (in blue) presented the Phl initiatives at the forum

The Department of Migrant Workers said it has helped take down about 250,000 online posts of recruitment scams over the past six years, through partnerships with social media platforms Meta (for Facebook) and TikTok Philippines.

The Department made the announcement at the 19^th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) held from Oct. 14 to 15 in Pasay City.

A statement issued by the DMW said that during the summit, countries from Southeast Asia pushed for stronger cooperation against online recruitment scams and other fraudulent scheme targeting migrant workers.

Online recruitment has become the bane of most countries sending their workers abroad, with the opening of new overseas markets and the proliferation of unlicensed recruiters offering fake juicy posts while hiding beneath glossy posters and layers of murky identities.

The scam is even more prevalent in places where there are migrant workers who have better means to pay the hefty fees charged by recruiters, and are easily lured to go cross-country with promises of better pay and working conditions. The ease of transferring money across territories has compounded the problem.

A DMW warning against immigration consultancies that falsely offer jobs online

Presenting the Philippines initiatives was DMW Undersecretary Darlene Pajarito, who said the government, social media platforms and other stakeholders must work together to protect jobseekers.

“We cannot work in silos. That’s why we also forged many memoranda of agreement with concerned agencies, published materials for public awareness, and took down fraudulent job posts through our partnership with Meta and TikTok Philippines,” Pajarito said.

The session, moderated by Souksakhone Siharaj, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Lao PDR, examined fraudulent job offers, online recruitment platforms and how they can be regulated to prevent scams.

The forum also tackled migrant workers’ access to protection, support and legal remedies when they fall victim to recruitment fraud and other forms of exploitation.

One of the participants, Kongseng Piengpanya of Village Focus International, urged ASEAN stakeholders to turn their discussions into concrete measures to protect vulnerable migrant workers.

“I hope that this 19th AFML will find the good rules, the constructive recommendations, and then lead to actions in the future to provide appropriate protection for migrant workers, who may also be vulnerable to scams,” Piengpanya said.

Participants also reviewed regional efforts to promote safe migration and decent work, and called for sustained cooperation among governments, employers, workers’ organizations and civil society.

 

 

Hgh Court cuts Pinay’s sentence in drug case

 

The High Court, where the Court of Appeal holds sessions

The Court of Appeal has reduced the sentence of a Filipina asylum seeker who appealed after being convicted in 2022 of attempted drug trafficking for claiming a shipment of 4,924 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (ice  or shabu) worth $2.7 million during a controlled delivery watched by Customs officers.

The sentence of Nellie Pangosban, 40 years old, was reduced by one year and five months to 16 years and five months, in a decision handed down Tuesday (Oct. 13) by acting Chief Justice Andrew Macrae and Justice of Appeals Kevin Zervos.

The new sentence was in accordance with new sentencing guidelines set in March 2025. “As has been repeatedly made clear, if the revised guidelines are found to be applicable to an appellant, the Court is required to sentence afresh…,’ the decision said.

Pangosban pleaded guilty before a magistrate on August 1, 2022 to a charge of attempted trafficking in a dangerous drug involving 4.960 kilos of a crystalline solid containing 4.924 kilos of ice, contrary to section 4(1)(a) and (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance and section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

She confirmed her plea on August 1, 2023 before Deputy High Court Judge Douglas Yau and was sentenced to 17 years and 10 months’ imprisonment, consisting of a starting point of 26 to 30 years’ imprisonment, enhanced by 6 months for the aggravating factor of the appellant’s status as a Form 8 recognizance holder, and was reduced by one-third for the appellant’s guilty plea.

After her appeal, her sentence was reduced to 16 years and 5 months’ imprisonment, consisting of a starting point of 23 years and 11 months’ imprisonment, which was enhanced by 9 months and reduced by one-third for her guilty plea.

Explaining the longer enhancement, the two justices explained that committing “a serious criminal offence while permitted to remain in Hong Kong on recognizance constitutes, in a general sense, a breach of trust, involving a grave abuse of the city’s hospitality and a breach of conditional liberty attaching to the status of a claimant while awaiting the outcome of his or her immigration or torture claim.”

Filipina charged with stealing HK$400k worth of jewelry, cash

 

The alleged theft is said to have happened in this estate

A Filipina domestic worker arrested on Monday on suspicion of stealing jewelry and cash reportedly worth around HK$400,000 was charged with one count of theft when she appeared at Eastern Court today, Wednesday.

Rona Jean N. Lagat, 33, was informed of the charges against her but was not asked to enter a plea.

According to the charge, Lagat stole a number of jewelry and cash from her employer’s flat at Fullview Court, Fortress Garden, between June 15 and October 12 this year.

Basahin ang detalye!

She is accused of stealing JPY80,000 (around HK$4,000), two gold bracelets, one green gemstone ring, one sapphire necklace, one Cartier watch, one pair of diamond earrings and one gold necklace, the property of Irene Wong Shin-ling.

The prosecution asked the case to be adjourned to December 9 for further investigation, and said any bail application would be opposed.

The defense lawyer said they had no instruction to apply for bail for Lagat.

Eastern Chief Magistrate So Wai-tak ordered Lagat to be remanded in jail until the next hearing of the case, but set down a bail review on October 22.

In the same court, a Filipina asylum seeker was charged with two counts of stealing Octopus cards, but no mention was made of her using the cards to the detriment of another person.

Aurora B. Delfin, 39, was charged of stealing the two Octopus cards between June 15 and October 12 this year, “somewhere” in North Point. One of the cards was said to be owned by a local female resident, but the owner of the second card was not identified.

The prosecution said it would oppose any bail application, as Delfin still had an outstanding commitment to repay someone, which she had yet to comply with.

Magistrate So noted that the amount involved was HK$934.40, which Delfin was ordered to repay last year. He gave Delfin 14 days to settle this obligation, or she would have to spend time in jail in lieu.

The magistrate ordered Delfin remanded in jail until the next hearing date of December 12.

 

 

 

HK labor chief rules out trial period for FDHs

 

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (source: Dotdot News)

The Hong Kong government does not intend to amend laws or policies regarding foreign domestic helpers, particularly on imposing a trial or probation period, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun told the Legislative Council today.

Secretary Sun was answering a question by Legislator Tommy Chung regarding the lack of flexibility in the existing Standard Employment Contract (SEC) and supporting policies, which he said causes problems for employers of FDHs.

Sun said, “The Government attaches great importance to the reasonable rights and interests of both foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and employers, and is committed to balancing the concerns and interests of both parties, while maintaining Hong Kong as an attractive work destination for a sufficient number of FDHs, so as to meet the community's increasing domestic care needs."

Chung had asked whether the government will study introducing a statutory probation period (two to three months) in FDH employment contracts, during which employers will provide free transportation but FDHs will pay for their airfares in proportion to their length of service, and agency fees for re-hiring will be limited.

Basahin ang detalye!

Sun replied that under present rules, employers may terminate contracts in accordance with the Employment Ordinance and the terms of the Standard Employment Contract (SEC). “The Government considers that there is no need to introduce into the SEC an additional provision prescribing a probationary period,” he said.

Chung also asked whether it will formulate, in collaboration with the Equal Opportunities Commission, guidelines on contract termination where FDHs are unable to perform duties due to serious illness or other reasons.

But Sun said that under the Disability Discrimination Ordinance, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against or dismiss an employee on the ground of disability.

“Nevertheless,” he added, “an exception may apply if the employer can present objective evidence to prove that the employee concerned is unable to perform the inherent requirements of the job due to the employee's disability.”

Finally, Chung asked whether government will amend the legislation to stipulate that FDHs who are dismissed upon conviction for criminal offences will immediately forfeit their eligibility to any statutory compensation, payment in lieu of notice and passage allowance, while the Immigration Department will also prohibit them from coming to Hong Kong to work again.

Sun said that is already allowed under current laws.

For example, if an FDH is guilty of fraud or dishonesty, where he/she is convicted by the court of stealing property from the employer's home, “the EO currently already provides that the employer may summarily dismiss the FDH without notice or payment in lieu of notice,” he said.  

However, he added that the employer is still required to provide the FDH with return passage to his/her place of origin. “This arrangement is one of the necessary conditions for allowing employers to recruit domestic helpers from overseas to work in Hong Kong, and is intended to ensure that FDHs who come to Hong Kong will not be left stranded in Hong Kong due to a lack of means for travel,” he said.

If an FDH has any adverse record or has committed any breach, the Immigration Department will normally refuse his/her application, he added.

Remains of ex-OFW sent home after community fundraising

 

Lina emerges from court in 2023 after testifying against her employer who had locked her out 

The remains of a former overseas Filipino worker whose recent death sparked appeals for help on social media, are now in her hometown of Tayug, Pangasinan, after her friends and the Muslim community in Hong Kong raised the needed funds for repatriation.

Lina Realiza Doculan, 52 and a single mother of three adult children, died of cardiac arrest triggered by pulmonary embolism on September 22 at Tuen Mun Hospital.

Her daughter, Rolyn Grace, said that by then, her mother had long been jobless due to her pending application for asylum, so their family struggled to raise the HK$42,000 needed to cover the cost of sending the remains back to the Philippines.

Basahin ang detalye!

Grace said her mother first arrived in Hong Kong in 2014. She had an uneventful employment history until her last contract was terminated in 2023, after she testified in court against the prominent daughter of her employer who had locked her out of the house, and had thrown her things out in a fit of rage.

Failing to secure another job and to claim compensation for her wrongful termination, Lina ended up overstaying her visa, but was eventually caught and detained. She fainted while in detention, and it was then that she was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism.

Grace said her mother had indicated her desire to go home to recover, but again fainted on the street shortly after leaving Tuen Mun Hospital on September 4. She was re-admitted in a comatose state, and never regained consciousness until she died a few days later.

As Lina had no employer and no insurance that would have paid for repatriating her remains, her friends turned to social media to appeal for help from fellow OFWs.

The money raised from this, plus a substantial contribution from the Muslims friends of her Pakistani partner, enabled them to raise enough for the repatriation.

Grace said she and another sibling decided to fly to Hong Kong to seek help from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration but were told that securing funding from Manila would take some time, so her mother’s friends decided to just cover the expenses themselves.

Lina never regained consciousness after being admitted to hospital on Sept. 4

Because of this setback, Grace, along with some of her mother’s friends, bewailed on social media the apparent inaction by the Philippine government on their appeal for help.

As a result, OWWA HK reached out to Grace and informed her that her mother’s body would be accompanied by their staff from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to their hometown in Pangasinan.

Grace said her family had asked OWWA if it could help pay for the funeral expenses for her mother, but the welfare agency reportedly told them that the most that they could get was Php20,000 in burial assistance. Sadly, even this could not be released to them in time for Lina’s funeral tomorrow.

 (Anyone who wishes to extend help to Lina’s family may send money through these numbers: 64836577  on Alipay or 09563900623 on GCash. Name is Rolyn Grace Ramirez).

 

 

2 Pinoys told to get lawyers before entering plea in DC

 

The District Court in Wanchai 

Two Filipinos, one charged with high-value theft and breach of deportation order; and another, for trafficking more than 15 kilos of marijuana, failed to enter their plea at the District Court today, after the judge noted that they had no lawyers to represent them.

Judge Clement Lee adjourned the cases of Cezar Raiz and Ma. Cristina Fernandez to January 12 next year.

Lee said he has received letters from the Legal Aid that they were still processing the two defendants’ applications for lawyers’ services.

Basahin ang detalye!

Raiz (also known as Rodrigo C. Balajadia, Mario Macaspac and Gregorio Nolasco) is charged with theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, after he allegedly stole 22 pendants from Chow Tai Fook Jewellery on Nathan Road, Mong Kok, on December 14, 2025.

His second charge, breach of deportation order, contrary to section 43(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, arose after investigators matched his fingerprints with another man who was deported on February 14, 2015.

Fernandez, on the other hand, was charged with violating section 4(1)(a) and (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, after her arrest on October 18, 2025 at Customs Arrival Hall B, Passenger Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport.

She was charged with trafficking in 15,437 gram of cannabis in herbal form.

Pinay accused of getting loan by deception denied bail

Eastern Court

A Filipina arrested at the airport for suspected loan fraud before she could board her flight to Manila, was returned to jail after she was refused bail today at Eastern Court.

Gladys Guillermo, 34 years old, was held for allegedly taking out a $19,900 loan despite losing her job, which was supposed to guarantee her repayment.  

She was charged with obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception, contrary to section 18(1) of the Theft Ordinance.

Magistrate Edward Wong rejected her offer of $500 cash bail, saying the case is serious, that she was intercepted at the airport so the risk of her not returning to court to answer the charges is high, and that she had no local ties.

Basahin ang detalye!

Magistrate Edward Wong said Guillermo can appeal his decision to the High Court, but set a bail review hearing on October 20. He also scheduled the resumption of the case for November 23.

Guillermo allegedly claimed to be employed to prove income in order to induce Prime Credit, a finance company, to approve a loan principal of $19,900 plus 12 months' interest, totaling $22,627.

She allegedly made the claim last March 13, at Prime Credit, 8/F, Euro Trade Centre, 21-23 Des Voeux Road Central, Central.

Guillermo arrived in Hong Kong last year. 

Indonesian helper arrested for murder after death of 93-year-old ward

 

Entrance to Tak Long Estate (Google photo)

Hong Kong police have arrested an Indonesian domestic helper suspected of killing her 93-year-old employer after video footage emerged of the helper repeatedly assaulting the elderly woman minutes before her death.

Police said in a press briefing that the elderly woman who was widowed and childless, was found unconscious Sunday morning in her one-room flat in Long Yiu House at Tak Long Estate in Ngau Tau Kok.

The 52-year-old helper hired more than three years ago to provide round-the-clock care to the woman had sought help from the building security staff at about 8:20am that day, saying her employer was unresponsive.

Basahin ang detalye!

Paramedics who were called to the flat performed emergency treatment on the woman at the scene, before rushing her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead at 9:12am.

The death initially did not raise an alarm as no obvious fatal injuries were found on the woman, and there were no signs of a struggle or ransacking of the flat.

But police said that a random check by the woman’s relatives of the CCTV installed in the flat showed the helper repeatedly assaulting the woman between 8:03am and 8:10am on Sunday.

The suspect allegedly hit the woman by hand about 20 times on the head, face and neck. She was also seen stepping on the woman’s abdomen while handling her body in a rough and violent manner.

Shortly after the last assault, the woman was seen lying motionless on her bed.

Police arrested the helper at about 3:50am earlier today, Monday, on suspicion of murder.

A preliminary examination by a forensic pathologist reportedly showed bruises on the woman’s chest, lower and right side of the abdomen and right jaw, as well as cuts on the left side of her neck.

The exact cause of death is expected to be established following an autopsy and further forensic tests.

Older footage from the security camera reportedly showed the helper assaulting the woman daily over the past two weeks.

“Footage gathered by police shows that there were intermittent minor assaults daily in the past half a month or so,” said a police officer at the briefing.

The police said a friction had developed between the helper and her bedridden employer over time due to overwork.

The Social Welfare Department reportedly made regular visits to the deceased, and individual relatives visited about once a month.

According to the police the woman’s husband died more than three decades ago due to an illness. She was herself diagnosed with colorectal cancer 17 years ago, and about two years ago, suffered a stroke.

In addition, she had a history of chronic illnesses, including hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol, requiring long-term medication and regular medical check-ups.

Relatives arranged to hire the helper to care for her starting in January 2023.

The District Crime Squad of Sau Mau Ping District is investigating the case. Anyone who has any information to offer in relation the incident is urged to contact the investigating officers at telephone number 3661 6236.

 

Pinay admits lying to Immigration, sentence put off

 

A Filipina charged with conspiracy to defraud and lying to Immigration at the airport, has been convicted after pleading guilty at Shatin court, but will be sentenced on December 8.

Maria Nina Fernandez, 40, was thus allowed bail of $800 by acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong until her next hearing.

DETAILS HERE

Fernandez was convicted of conspiracy to defraud on Friday (october 9), contrary to Common Law and punishable under section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinance, for conspiring with Liu Chung Hang to defraud the Immigration Director and his officers, “by dishonestly and falsely representing … that you had been employed by Cho Yee Mi as a domestic helper,” according to the complaint by the Immigration Department.

The conspiracy induced “the Director and his officers to act contrary to their public duty, namely to grant you permission to enter and remain in Hong Kong in circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted.”

PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE

The complaint added that Fernandez committed the offense between an unknown day in October 2022 and 17 October 2023 in Hong Kong.

The second charge is making a false representation to an Immigration Assistant lawfully acting under or in the execution of Part II of the Immigration Ordinance, contrary to section 42(1) (a) of the Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

Fernandez was charged with making a false representation to an Immigration Assistant at the airport that she would work for her contractual employer Cho Yee Mi on January 26, 2023.

5 Filipinos arrested at airport held on drug trafficking charges

 

Cannabis buds seized from three Filipinos (Customs photo)

Five Filipino tourists were sent back to jail where they have been held since their arrest, after appearing in two batches at West Kowloon Court, where they were taken after being arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport on drug charges.

Principal Magistrate Don So ordered on Friday (Oct. 9) the continued detention as he adjourned the cases of Elizalde Cena Jr, 32 years old, Patricia Kelly Chua, 24 and  Kathleen Joy Chua-Cena, 31, to December 30 pending issuance of the Government Chemist certificate to identify the substances seized from them, and of Jemelyn Antonio, 33, and Janneth Gilles, 26, to December 4.

PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE

Cena, Chua and Chua-Cèna are charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug, namely 35.06 kilos of cannabis buds, after they were arrested last September 29 at Customs Arrival Hall A of the airport, in violation of sections 4 (1) (a) and (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

DETAILS HERE

They arrived from from Bangkok, Thailand.

In addition Chua is charged with possession of poison included in Part I of the Poisons List, contrary to Sections 23 (1) and 33 (1) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, when Customs oficers found 7 tablets containing ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic.

Chua-Cena also faces a possession of poison charge for 6 tablets containing paracetamol, propyphenazone and caffeine; 3 tablets containing phenylephrine and paracetamol; and 10 tablets containing androgenic substance.

Basahin ang detalye!

In the other case, Antonio, a teacher, and Gilles, a banking officer, were arrested last July 15 at the Customs Arrival Hall A, for allegedly trafficking in 12.05 kilos of cannabis buds fo found inside their check-in suitcases.

They also arrived from Bangkok.

Filipina DH accused of forging air ticket receipt

 

Kowloon City Court

A Filipina domestic helper appeared in Kowloon City Court on Thursday, charged with forging a flight ticket receipt with intent to defraud a local resident, Li Ka Yee Carri.

Reschel Ann A. Ojano, 37 years old, has been detained after the alleged offence on Sept 23, 2026.

DETAILS HERE

Ojano is charged with taking a screen capture of the ticket receipt, and then presenting it to Li, with the intention of inducing her to accept it as a genuine.

In the process, Ojano was said to have caused prejudice to Li.

Basahin ang detalye!

No details were revealed in court, but Ojano was asked if she intended to apply for bail. When she said no, Deputy Principal Magistrate ordered her returned to custody until the next hearing of the case on November 11 for mention.

Asylum seekers, overstayer among 20 arrested in anti-illegal work raids

 

Immigration officers display construction tools seized during the raids

A six-day operation to flush out suspected illegal workers has resulted in 20 people being arrested, including 17 suspected illegal workers, one overstayer and two suspected employers.

The suspected illegal workers comprised 15 men and two women, aged 22 to 58. Five of the men and one woman were found to hold recognizance forms which allow them to stay in Hong Kong to pursue their application against being sent back home, but not work.

The overstayer was a man aged 49.

DETAILS HERE

Two men, aged 48 and 64, were arrested on suspicion of hiring the illegal workers.

The arrests followed territory-wide operations between agents of the Immigration Department, the Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong Customs, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Targeted during the raids conducted from October 2 to 9 were restaurants, flats under renovation and beauty parlors and other premises.

Basahin ang detalye!

A statement from the Immigration Department said an investigation into the suspected illegal work operations is continuing.

The statement also reminded the public that taking up work in violation of visa restrictions is a serious offence in Hong Kong. The maximum penalty for working illegally in Hong Kong is two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to HK$50,000.

Overstayers and asylum seekers who are subject to deportation could be jailed for up to three years and meted a maximum fine of HK$50,000.

Employers face the more serious penalty of imprisonment for up to 10 years and a maximum fine of HK$500,000.

Under existing mechanisms, Immigration routinely conducts an initial screening of vulnerable workers, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers arrested during ant-illegal work operations to determine whether they could be victims of human trafficking or forced labour.

Immigration calls on those who are trafficked or subjected to forced labour to report to them or other relevant departments immediately.

To report suspected illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Lawyer withdraws in $50k theft case against Filipina

 

The case is being heard at Kowloon City Court

In a surprise move, the duty lawyer handling the case of a Filipina domestic helper accused of stealing Octopus money and supermarket coupons from her employer opted out yesterday, Thursday, over apparent differences on how the defence should proceed.

Maricel G. Noveda, 36, had earlier indicated she was ready to enter a plea, but appeared to change her mind.

After her lawyer informed the court of his intention to withdraw, Kowloon City Deputy Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi adjourned the case for mention on November 12.

DETAILS HERE

The Filipina was advised to secure another counsel for her next court appearance.

According to the amended charge sheet, Noveda is accused of having stolen “a chose in action” (or an intangible property) related to her having used an Octopus Card belonging to her employer Chan Yuk to purchase items worth HK$35,298.10 without authorization.

The alleged offences were said to have been committed between Nov 1, 2025 and Jan. 13, 2026.

Basahin ang detalye!

In the second charge of theft, Noveda is accused of having stolen supermarket coupons worth HK$15,000, also from Chan, with the alleged offences having been committed between Dec 1, 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026.

No plea was taken from Noveda and her HK$1,000 was extended until her next court appearance.

 

 

 

 

Pinay who mistakenly texted employer about theft jailed 10 months

 

The theft took place in one of the flats in Laguna Verde (Google Maps photo)

A domestic helper who mistakenly sent a text message to her employer confessing that she stole $110,500 worth of the latter’s jewelry and cash, was jailed for 10 months on Thursday after she pleaded guilty to theft at Kowloon City Court.

According to the case brief read out in court, 37-year-old Ciavy Jean Daniega had meant to send the text message to a friend, but instead passed it on her employer, who called the police.

In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi told Deniega that what she had done was serious as it involved a breach of trust, and the amount involved was substantial. He set a starting point of one year and three months' jail in sentencing, but reduced it by one third because of the  guilty plea.

Deniega was charged with violating section 9 of the Theft Ordinance by stealing five gold pellets, two gold bracelets, four necklaces, one gold necklace, one gold ring, and cash of $10,200, with a total value of $110,500, from her employer, Shelby Lily Yu. 

DETAILS HERE

The theft took place between April 4 and June 3, 2026, in the employer’s flat at Tower 11, Laguna Verde, 8 Laguna Verde Avenue, Hung Hom, Kowloon. Deniega had been working for the employer for just over a year at the time.

According to the case brief, the jewels were kept inside a drawer and a bookshelf which were both unlocked, inside the flat's master bedroom.

After her employer called the police, four pawnshop receipts and the boxes that held the jewelry were found inside the helper's room.

The employer, through her lawyer, asked the court for a return of the HK$10,200 cash that was stolen along with the jewelry, but the defense lawyer said Deniega did not have the money to pay.

Basahin ang detalye!

In mitigation, her lawyer said financial pressures, such as finding money for medical expenses for her sick elderly mother and a son who has urinary tract infection, forced her to steal. Paying off loans meant she could send only half her salary each month to her family.

The lawyer asked for a lenient sentence, saying Deniega wants to go back home as soon as possible to reunite with her ailing mother and son.

Deniega arrived in Hong Kong in 2015.

Filipina in Cheung Sha Wan raid charged with drug trafficking

 

Police lead the suspect away from the Cheung Sha Wan flat (Photo by The Standard)

A 38-year-old Filipina appeared in Kowloon City court today, charged with drug trafficking, after suspected methamphetamine (or ice) and heroin weighing more than 2 kilos were reportedly found in her handbag and in a flat she was renting in Cheung Sha Wan.

Wilma P. Hubid, who holds a Hong Kong ID card and is unemployed, was arrested on Tuesday night by police who allegedly found drugs in a subdivided flat she was renting at 137 Un Chau Street.

The charge sheet filed in court today did not specify the kind and quantity of the drugs found seized from the defendant.

Basahin ang detalye!

However, news reports earlier said the Filipina was stopped outside the flat by police officers, who then found about 60 grams of suspected cocaine and 267 grams of ice in her handbag.

A search of the flat which police suspect was used as a drug packaging hub reportedly yielded an additional 1.17 kilos of suspected ice, 746 grams of suspected cocaine, 176 grams of suspected crack cocaine, and packaging tools including an electronic scale and a large number of resealable plastic bags.

Police estimated the value of the seized drugs at HK$1.42 million.

In court, Hubid was asked if she could understand the proceedings which were being conducted in English as no Tagalog interpreter was around, and she answered in the affirmative.

She also told the court that she will be represented by counsel at her next court appearance.

Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi did not ask her for her plea, and assured her that a Tagalog interpreter will be provided at the next court hearing set for December 31. She was remanded in jail until then.

Drug trafficking is a serious offence in Hong Kong, and carries the maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of HK$5 million.