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| Vargas posted this photo of her passport awhile back, after she overstayed her visa |
But Principal Magistrate David
Cheung was quick to excuse Kris Hope Vargas, 33 years old, after noting a
letter from the Hospital Authority that she was confined in a hospital.
He set a four-month adjournment, setting a new hearing on Jan. 28 next year.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
Magistrate Cheung did not disclose details
about Vargas’ condition, but in earlier hearings her lawyer said she was
suffering from asthma.
At another time the court was told that she was being treated for mental illness at Kwai Chung Psychiatric Hospital.
She
was taken there after being reported by relatives in the Philippines as missing.
Later, she was found disheveled and walking aimlessly around Tsim Sha Tsui.
The Sun had earlier reported the
disappearance of Vargas (https://www.sunwebhk.com/2023/12/family-of-dh-charged-with-overstaying.html).
The court was later told that she had been confined in the hospital from Nov. 28, 2023 to Jan. 28, 2024. (https://www.sunwebhk.com/2023/12/mentally-ill-filipina-found-another.html).
She faces a charge of breach of condition of stay for overstaying, in violation of the Immigration Ordinance.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
She has been in and out of court since her arrest for money laundering and overstaying in November 2020. Court records showed she should have remained in Hong Kong only until Mar 10, 2020, after her FDH visa was terminated.
At one point her cash bail of $2,000
was forfeited by the court for non-appearance, but she was allowed to post bail
again when she reappeared.
She pleaded guilty to money
laundering and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in June 2021.
Her other case for overstaying has
been adjourned since, as she applied for non-refoulement, or against being deported
to the Philippines on account of alleged torture.
