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| The hooded suspects are led away for questioning (The Standard photo) |
The Philippine Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong says it is providing help to a Filipino couple charged with drug trafficking, and child neglect after their 26-month-old baby boy was reportedly found alone in their flat on Lamma island.
The 42-year-old Filipino man and the 36-year-old
woman who are both domestic helpers, were arrested on Thursday (Mar 19) after
police found about HK$200,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine in their home.
The toddler was found in the apartment during the
police raid and was taken to Queen Mary Hospital for check-up though he
appeared unharmed.
“We are now handling the case including the concerns
re the minor child,” said Labor Attache Cesar Chavez, Jr. in a short text
message to The SUN, which had earlier learned that both suspects are on foreign
domestic helper visa.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Given the visa status of the couple, the boy who
should be on dependant’s visa, faces an uncertain future.
In previous rulings handed down by the Court of First
Instance and upheld by the Court of Appeal, children of FDHs born in Hong Kong
do not have right of abode, and their right to remain in Hong Kong depends on
whether their parents have that status.
According to reports on the incidnt, Marine Police
found about 554 grams of cannabis and 102 grams of cocaine from the couple’s home
in Tai Peng Village early on Thursday, following a tip and an in-depth
investigation.
Photos taken from the scene showed the couple in
handcuffs and their heads covered with black hoods as they were taken away by
officers from their home and loaded onto a ferry.
They were subsequently charged with drug trafficking,
a serious offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a
HK$5 million.
Ill-treatment of a child is punishable with up to 10
years in prison.
