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| The neighborhood in Mui Wo where the rape was allegedly committed (Google Maps photo) |
The case against a Filipino cook accused of raping his family’s domestic helper, was elevated to the High Court after he pleaded not guilty today at Eastern Court.
Alden John Apayat, 41 years old, will be tried for the rape
of the woman identified only as X, on April 10 last year at their house on Mui Wo Rural
Committee Road, Mui Wo, Lantau Island.
Under Section 118(1) of the Crimes Ordinance, rape carries the maximum penalty of life in prison.
In a hearing today, Magistrate Minnie Wat released Apayat
under an arrangement adopted in June last year when the case was still at
Shatin Court, in which Apayat would be released on a cash bail of $50,000 and
surety of $15,000.
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| DETAILS HERE |
The bail conditions required him to surrender his Philippine
passport, to not contact any of the prosecution witnesses and the victim, to live
in the address given to the court, to notify the police at least 24 hours
before moving to another address, and to report every Sunday to the Mui Wo
Police.
Meanwhile, a Filipina asylum seeker arrested last month after she slashed two plastic safety cones in the Apliu Street Public Toilet in Sham Shui Po, found herself shelling out $1,000 for bail at West Kowloon Court after two charges were filed against her by police.
Principal Magistrate Don So adjourned the case against Rutchel
Lagud, 39 years old and unemployed, who was charged with possession of
offensive weapon and criminal damage after the slashing incident last Nov. 17.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The first case, a violation of section 17 of the Summary
Offences Ordinance, arose after Lagud was found to have in her possession a
paper cutter around 13 cm in length.
The Police alleged that she had the cutter “with intent to
use the said weapon for unlawful purposes.”
The criminal damage charge, in violation of section 60(1) of
the Crimes Ordinance, arose after she used the cutter to slash the safety cones
inside the female toilet, “without lawful excuse” and “intending to damage such
property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged,” the
Police alleged.
