 |
| She was under administrative detention for 37 days |
A Filipina who lost her job as a domestic helper four years ago but stayed on in Hong Kong illegally, thus breaching her condition of stay, has received a combined sentence of five days for two counts of overstaying, suspended for 12 months.
 |
| Pindutin para sa detalye |
But this does not mean that Prynne Montino, 42 years old, got
off lightly after pleading guilty at Shatin Court on Thursday (Oct. 9),.
Before she was brought to court, Montino had been under “administrative detention” by the Immigration Department for 37 days.
Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong deducted these detention
days from the 21-day imprisonment he meted for each of the charges. For the 5
days left, he ordered that Montino not be detained unless she reoffends in the
next 12 months.
The first breach of condition of stay charge arose from
Montino staying on until he was arrested on March 14, 2022, one year and three
months after the two-week deadline for her to leave following the termination
of her contract on Jan. 2, 2021.
 |
| Basahin ang detalye! |
However, she could not be reached when sought again on July
21, 2022, resulting in her being charged with a similar case, in violation of section
41 of the Immigration Ordnance.
The second charge said that she overstayed between July 21, 2022 and Jan. 30, 2024.
During her overstay, Montino applied for non-refoulment, seeking
to prevent the Hong Kong government from forcibly sending her back to the Philippines, resulting in her being issued a recognizance form as her identity document.
