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| EasternCourt |
A Filipina domestic helper was sentenced today at Eastern Court to eight months in jail after she pleaded guilty to using somebody else’s bank account to launder $131,000 in crime money.
Michelle Valenzuela, aged 45, pleaded guilty to dealing with
property known or believed to be proceeds of an indictable offense or money laundering, a violation of
the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
The police complaint accused her of dealing with dirty money
using an account with Hang Seng Bank, along with a certain Richel Gania, between
an unknown date in January 2020 and March 4, 2020, but did not describe what
she actually did.
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At today’s hearing, Valenzuela hinted at her role – either
depositing or withdrawing money -- when she answered yes to Principal Magistrate
Don So’s question as to whether she used someody else’s account.
She also answered yes when Magistrate So asked if somebody
gave her the ATM card of the account.
Her lawyer, in seeking leniency in sentencing, said Valenzuela
is the sole breadwinner of her family and is sending two children to university.
In a separate money laundering case,
Imelda Maqueda, 54 years old, was remanded in jail custody after her case was adjourned
by Magistrate So to Dec. 20 on request of the prosecution.
She is accused of dealing in $312,497.50
of proceeds from crime that were deposited and withdrawn between Dec. 17, 2020
and Jan. 8, 2021.
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