A Filipina who opened accounts in eight banks and then sold them for sums ranging from $500 to $3,000, resulting in their ending up being used as depository for $6.4 million raised in scams, was sentenced today by the District Court to 40 months and 26 days in prison.
Vermadel Canonero, 49 years old, wiped away tears as Deputy
District Judge Ivy Chui read her decision convicting Canonero for eight counts
of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an
indictable offence, contrary to section 25(1) and (3) of the Organized and
Serious Crimes Ordinance and one count of breach of condition of stay, contrary
to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.
Canonero admitted to selling her eight bank accounts that were used to launder money made from various scams or fraudulent transactions.
Judge Chui imposed a starting point of 48 months’ imprisonment
for money laundering on Canonero but gave her a one-third discount because she
pleaded guilty, to come up with 32 months. With 25 per cent enhancement of the sentence to
serve as deterrent, the sentence came up to 40 months.
She also sentenced Canonero to 26 days for overstaying in
Hong Kong.
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Judge Chui said investigation showed that the HK$6,448,441.27
came from scam victims in what appears to be the longest money laundering
activity ever linked to a foreign domestic worker, spanning a period of more
than two years, from Apr 16, 2022 to Nov. 13, 2024.
She cited three ways in which the victims were scammed.
Some received a call from “Customber Assistance” informing them
that their bank account had been accidentally overdrawn and asking for their PIN to be able
to correct the situation. Some were informed that they applied for insurance,
chargeabe to their bank account; since they did not make such application, a supposed
“Customer Assistance” personnel offered to erase it, using their bank account
PIN. Another method was an employment scam, details of which judge Chui did not
elaborate.
Canonero opened her first bank account with Mox Bank on Apr
16, 2022, and kept it active until July 13, 2024. During that period, tainted
money totaling $3,053,717.57 passed through the account.
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The second charge involves a ZA Bank account in her name,
where a total of $775,475.86 in illicit money was funneled between Nov. 23 2023
and Jun 9, 2024.
Between Mar 4, 2024 and Apr 22, 2024, Canonero’s account at
digital services company HKT Payment Ltd was used in laundering a total of
$766,823.34.
Between Mar 27, 2024 and Nov. 13, 2024, another account in
her name with China Citic Bank was used to launder a total of $261,626.80.
Between Mar 25, 2024 and Jul 5, 2024 a total of $536,919.61 was
laundered in her account with Airstar Bank, Ltd.
Between Apr 8 and 18, 2024, Canonero’s account with Hong
Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation was used to launder $229,330.
Between Apr 8, 2024 and Jul 4, 2024 a total of $345,000 was
laundered using her account with Bank of China.
Finally, her Livi Bank account was used to launder a total
of $479,548.09 between May 22, 2024 and Aug 12, 2024.
Judge Chui cleared Canonero of the ninth charge -- breach of
her visa condition by overstaying, having been permitted to remain in Hong Kong
as a domestic helper only until June 9, 2024 but staying until her arrest on
Mar 17, 2025 -- because the prosecution did not offer evidence.
She was instead convicted of remaining in Hong Kong after
the expiration of her visitor visa on Nov. 18, 2024.
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