Two Filipinos seeking asylum in Hong Kong were freed on bail today, Monday, after appearing at Shatin Court, each charged with breach of condition of stay by overstaying by five and three years, respectively, after their visas expired.
The cases against Arlen Santos and Jeffrey Alindeg date back
to 2024 when the Immigration Department filed the cases against them for
violation of section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.
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That section states: “Any person who contravenes a condition
of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence and shall be
liable on conviction to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and to imprisonment for 2
years.”
Santos, 51 years old, allegedly remained in Hong Kong after
her domestic helper contract expired on June 7, 2017 and was arrested on May
24, 2021.
Prior to her being charged on May 8, 2024, however, she
filed a claim for non-refoulement seeking to prevent the Hong Kong government
from forcibly sending her back to the Philippines.
As a result, she used a recognizance form as her identity document.
Her case was adjourned to Dec. 18
and she allowed bail of $500.
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Also carrying a recognizance form for identification is Alindeg,
39 years old, who is accused of overstaying from Feb. 3, 2019 to Jan. 5, 2022.
He arrived in Hong Kong in January 2019 and stayed on even after
his visa expired.
He was freed on a cash bail of $1,000 and told to come back
to court on Dec. 18.
