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| Magistrate said the Filipina can go to the High Court to apply for bail |
By Vir B. Lumicao
A Filipina domestic worker accused by her female employer of
stealing a diamond ring has been denied bail by a Kwun Tong magistrate despite an
offer of guarantee from the Consulate that she won’t abscond.
Jeambreth Algura appeared on May 4 before Magistrate Chu
Chung-keung to apply for her temporary release eight days after she was charged
with theft by the police.
The defendant was arrested and taken into custody on Apr 24
after the employer called the police to report that her ring was missing. The ring
was allegedly found later by the employer in a pocket of Algura’s backpack.
The defendant’s mother, who also works in Hong
Kong , attended the hearing accompanied by Danny Baldon, an officer
of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section.
The counsel assigned by the Duty Lawyers Service to
represent Algura applied for bail on her behalf. He said she had offered to
post a $1,000 bail and that the Consulate had agreed to house her in its shelter
for troubled workers.
The Consulate has also offered to guarantee that the
defendant will not leave Hong Kong while the
case is not resolved, the lawyer said. Pointing to the gallery, the lawyer said
a consular officer was, in fact, in the courtroom.
But Magistrate Chu refused the application, but told the defendant
she could apply for bail at the Court of First Instance.
He adjourned the hearing until May 31 and ordered the helper
remanded in custody.
