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| Shatin Court |
Will doing a sideline to earn extra income be worth it for a domestic helper? Not if it means losing her job and being jailed to boot.
Jocelyn Balbuena, 37 years old, found this out after she was
meted a two-month jail sentence, with no prospect of being allowed to resume work
in Hong Kong after her release from prison. She pleaded guilty today at Shatin Court
to breaching her condition of stay.
Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong meted a three-month
sentence but gave her a one-third discount for her guilty plea.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The Immigration Department complaint said Balbuena violated
her condition of stay – to work as a domestic helper for the employer specified
in her contract – by peforming work “other than approved by the Director of
Immigration.”
Babuena was arrested, on Nov. 21 while doing cleaning work
at Nam Fung Centre in Tsuen Wan, along with 13 other persons, during an anti-illegal work operations by the Immigration
Department on Nov. 18-21.
In a press statement about the arrests, Immigration warned:
"Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him
or her shall be guilty of an offense. Also, visitors are not allowed to take
employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the
Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon
conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment.
Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
During the anti-illegal worker operations, Immigration Task
Force officers raided 30 target locations including a beauty parlor, grocery
stores, a massage parlor, commercial buildings, residential buildings,
restaurants, retail shops and warehouses.
Ten suspected illegal workers and three suspected employers
were arrested.
In another operationn in which enforcement officers raided
seven target locations in Mongkok district, one female overstayer, aged 37, was
also arrested.
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