Pinay hunted after failing to show up at hearing

 

Eastern Court 

A Filipina former domestic helper is being hunted by police after she failed to show up for the hearing of her case at Eastern Court for overstaying.

Magistrate Ko Wai-hung ordered the arrest of Teodora Quijano, reserved the forfeiture of her bail and ordered police not to grant her bail once she is arrested.

Quijano, 36 years old, is charged with breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

She was alleged to have overstayed in Hong Kong on May 29, 2022 or 14 days after the premature termination of her domestic helper contract on May 15,  2022.

She was arrested on Sept. 3, 2022 at Ming Court Guest House, 2/F, Hong Kong Building, 137-147 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai.

10 persons arrested in anti-illegal work operations

 

2 of the 5 women arrested for illegal work are led away by the raiding team

A week-long operation targeting illegal workers that ended on March 5 has led to the arrest of 10 people across different locations.

Investigators from the Immigration Department, the police and two government departments raided several establishments, including restaurants, massage parlors and a logistics company.

Of the 10 people arrested, nine were suspected illegal workers comprising  four men and five women, aged 22 to 50. The other one was a woman aged 50 who was arrested on suspicion of hiring the illegal workers.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Immigration said in a statement that an investigation into the suspected employers is continuing, and did not rule out further arrests.

Contravening a condition of stay by working without a permit is punishable by up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000.

Basahin ang detalye!

Employers of illegal workers face a maximum jail term of 10 years and a $500,000 fine. Mere failure to properly inspect a job applicant’s identity document can lead to an employer being jailed for up to a year and fined up to $150,000.

2 plead guilty to operating dental clinic illegally

 

The 6 Filipino DHs after their arrest in unlicensed dental business

The leader of the six domestic helpers who were arrested by Immigration officersfor operating a dental clinic illegally in Sham Shui Po, has pleaded guilty to two charges, and will be sentenced on March 20 at Shatin Court.

Marites Bohol, 48 years old, who was returned to jail, will be sentenced with her assistant Marissa Necesito, 60 years old, who was granted bail of $2,000.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The four others – Carles Lie Ramos, Cherie Mel Patiga, Rowena Cerdina, and Jucen Naong – were also freed on bail of $2,000 until their next court hearing on April 8 on charges of aiding and abetting the practice of dentistry without registration.

Bohol pleaded guilty to practicing dentistry without registration, and establishing a business while in Hong Kong in breach of her condition of stay.

Basahin ang detalye!

Necesito pleaded guilty to breach of condition of stay, practicing dentistry without registration and three counts of employing persons not legally employable.

Drills were among the items seized during the raid on the makeshift dental clinic

Magistrate Raymond Wong dismissed five charges against Bohol, Necesito, Ramos, Patiga and Cerdina that were deemed identical to those filed against them.

The six were arrested on Aug. 17 last year by Immigration agents in a raid on a subdivided unit in Sham Shui Po.

Asylum seeker gets 2 months jail for slashing plastic cones

 

The toilet where the offense was committed (Google Maps photo)

For slashing two plastic safety cones placed inside a women’s toilet in Sham Shui Po, a 39-year-old asylum seeker was jailed for two months after she pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Court.

R. Lagud, who holds a recognizance form as her identity document, was charged with criminal damage contrary to section 60(1) of the Crimes Ordinance, for which she pleaded guilty when she appeared in court on Tuesday (Feb. 3).

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The offense was committed on Nov. 17 last year at the women’s public toilet at Apliu st., Sham Shui Po.

She was also charged with possession of offensive weapon contrary to section 17 of the Summary Offences Ordinance, after she was found to be carrying a 13cm cutter “with intent to use the said weapon for unlawful purposes,’ according to a Sham Shui Po police complaint.

However, this charge was withdrawn by prosecutors.

Basahin ang detalye!

Principal Magistrate Don So also cancelled the warrant of arrest issued against her when she failed to appear in court for a previous hearing.

21 arrested in anti-illegal worker operations

 

Immigration officers escort one of those arrested

Twenty-one people were arrested in anti-illegal worker operations by Immigration Department (ImmD) on multiple target locations including restaurants, warehouses and massage parlours last Feb. 16 to 26.

During the operations, ImmD officers arrested 19 suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers.

The arrested workers comprised nine men and 10 women, aged 33 to 58. Among them, three men and two women were holding recognizance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment.

See details

Arrested as employers were two men, aged 48 and 56.

The investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

The arrests were made in a series of territory-wide operations codenamed "Lightshadow", a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department codenamed "Flabbergast", and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" and "Windsand".

Basahin ang detalye!

"Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," ImmD said.

"As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business.” it added.

“Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years."

36 persons rounded up in latest anti-illegal worker drive

Immigration officers escort suspected illegal workers after arrest.

The Immigration Department (ImmD) rounded up 36 persons in its latest anti-illegal worker operations.

Those arrested consisted of 24 suspected illegal workers, nine suspected employers and three suspected aiders and abettors.

The arrests resulted from ImmD’s territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations, as well as joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the  Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Hong Kong Customs, from Feb. 6 to Feb. 15.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

During the anti-illegal worker operations at various Lunar New Year fairs, ImmD officers raided multiple stalls at the events and arrested 12 suspected illegal workers and six suspected employers.

The workers comprised four men and eight women, aged 18 to 52. They were found selling goods at the stalls.

Two men and four women, aged 33 to 49, were suspected of employing them.

See details

Apart from mounting enforcement operations, ImmD deployed a promotional vehicle and ImmD officers to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message to Lunar New Year fair stall owners and other retailers across the territory.

In other anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including restaurants, retail stores and garages etc. and arrested 12 suspected illegal workers, comprising three men and nine women, aged 20 to 54.

Among them, two men and two women were holding recognisance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment, with one woman also being suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

Basahin ang detalye!

The arrested workers were found performing dishwashing, garage mechanic and goods loading duties.

Two men and one woman, aged 35 to 65, were arrested for employing the illegal workers. Furthermore, the suspected aiders and abettors arrested were three men aged 42 to 45.

An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

2 Filipinos convicted of working illegally in Kwai Chung jailed for 22.5 months

 

The defendants and their supporters leave Shatin Court after a hearing last year

The last of two of the seven Filipinos who were hauled to court last year for working in a cargo handling warehouse in Kwai Chung. were found guilty today at Shatin Court of breaching their condition of stay and were each sentenced to 22 months and 15 days in prison.

Junipher Sambalod  and Marcelino Guisinga Jr. who both hold recognizance papers which did not allow them to take up work in Hong Kong, were convicted by Magistrate Raymond Wong despite pleading not guilty to the charge. 

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Sambalod, 41 years old, and Guisinga, 44, were convicted of taking employment while being a person in respect of whom a removal order is in force, contrary to sections 38AA(1)(b) and 38AA(2) of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115).

They were each accused of doing odd jobs in the Kwai Chung warehouse on March 4, 2025 while a removal order was in force  against them.

See details

Of the seven who were arrested at the same time, one 60-year-old domestic worker was able to walk free from court after pleading guilty to illegal work and agreeing to be bound over for $1,500 over 12 months.

But R. Sarabia was still ordered to pay costs of $500 to be deducted from his $1,000 bail.

DETAILS HERE

Four of their co-accused all pleaded guilty earlier to working illegally and were each sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment.

The four -- Julie Arcega Jr., 34 years old, Aris Pareja, 50, Christian Mendame, 43, and Joel Lorente, 46 -- pleaded guilty to violating Section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong handed them their respective sentences after deducting one third for their guilty pleas.

In a statement issued on March 5 last year, the Immigration Department announced it had arrested nine persons in an anti-illegal work operation conducted by its agents in Kwai Chung eight of whom were Filipinos.

The eighth Filipino was a female overstayer while the ninth was a 51-year-old male Hong Kong resident who was suspected of employing the Filipinos.

Overstaying Pinay who suffered stroke gets bound over for overstaying

 

A 64-year-old Filipina charged with breach of condition of stay for overstaying for almost two years, walked free today from the Shatin Court after the charge was dropped because the prosecution offered no evidence against her.

Instead, A, Agustin was bound to a promise not to commit any criminal offense for one year, otherwise she will be fined $1,500. She was also charged $500 for court costs.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Magistrate Raymond Wong explained that the bind-over will not leave her with a criminal record in Hong Kong.

DETAILS HERE

A source said the prosecutors did not pursue Agustin’s prosecution after finding out that she suffered a stroke while working as a domestic helper. She now walks with a cane.

Basahin ang detalye!

She was terminated on Dec. 31, 2023 and was given two weeks to leave Hong Kong. However, she stayed on under the care of a charity operating a home for the aged, so she could get rehabilitation treatment.

The Immigration Department filed a complaint last Nov. 3, 2025 for breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

High Court rejects 5 Pinoys’ asylum appeals

The High Court 

Five Filipinos who appealed to the High Court the disapproval of their claims to non-refoulement, or against being sent back to their countries of origin, found out last week that their fear of personal harm was not enough to give them asylum in Hong Kong.

In separate decisions, the High Court rejected appeals for judicial review of the following:

• Mary Ann Siervo, who sought refuge in Hong Kong after she overstayed when she did not leave as required when her contract as domestic helper expired on Dec. 27, 2021. She claimed she feared she would be harmed or killed by her abusive husband over their domestic disputes if she returned to the Philippines.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

• Jenelyn Tecson, who overstayed after her DH contract as terminated on March 2, 2021, and was arrested on April 21, 2021. She claimed she would be harmed or killed by her boyfriend over her affair with another man in Hong Kong.  
• Jecel  Gardose, who stayed after the completion of her employment contract on 27 March 2021, and surrendered to the Immigration Department on July 19, 2021. She claimed that if she returned to the Philippines she would be harmed or killed by her former boyfriend for leaving him and ending their relationship.
• Charles Johnson Macasulot, who did not leave after termination of his work contract, and claimed that he will be harmed or killed by his father-in-law if he returned to the Philippines because he had an extra-marital affair with another woman in Hong Kong.

PINDUTIN DITO

• Pinic Anita, who overstayed after termination of her employment contract and surrendered later to the Immigration Department, where she lodged a non-refoulement claim on the basis that she will be harmed or killed by a creditor because she was unable to repay her debt. 

All five were appealing the decision of the Torture Claims Appeal Board, which sided with the decision of the Immigration Department to junk their applications because they did not meet the requirements of the internationally-accepted Unified Screening Mechanism to screen refugees.

These requirements are risk of torture, risk to right to life, risk of torture or inhuman treatment and risk of persecution “on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.”

Basahin ang detalye!

The Board rulings were one in searching for “real risks” in the applications and found none. The five High Court decisions concurred with the rulings.

Deputy High Court Judge Bruno Chan in the first three cases asserted: “… in the absence of any error of law or procedural unfairness in her process before the Board or in its decision being clearly and properly identified by the Applicant, I do not find any reasonably arguable basis to challenge the finding of the Board.”

Added Deputy High Court Judge K.W. Lung: “The role of this Court is supervisory, meaning that it ensures that the Board complied with the public law requirements in coming to the Board’s Decision on the applicant’s appeal.  The Court will not usurp the fact-finding power vested in the (Immigration) Director and the Board.”

Pinoy DH gets suspended sentence for illegal work

 

2 other Filipinos charged with working illegally in a warehouse are on trial at Shatin court

A 60-year-old Filipino domestic worker was bound over for $1,500 over 12 months after pleading guilty to illegal work as he was due to stand trial at Sha Tin court starting today, Monday.

But while he managed to walk free from court, Rodrigo Sarabia was ordered to pay costs of $500 to be deducted from his $1,000 bail.

Two other Filipinos who were charged with him maintained their innocence as their trial began before Magistrate Raymond Wong.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Junipher R. Sambalod, 41 years old and Marcelino G. Guisinga, Jr., 44, are out on bail of $10,000 cash and $10,000 surety each, pending the outcome of their trial which is due to end on Thursday.

The three were among seven Filipinos arrested on March 4 last year on suspicion of working illegally in a cargo company in Kwai Chung.

Six of those arrested were asylum seekers and were charged with “taking employment while being a person in respect of whom a removal order is in force.”

Basahin ang detalye!

Sarabia, who was the only one on domestic worker visa, was charged with breaching his condition of stay.

Four of their co-accused all pleaded guilty earlier to working illegally and were each sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.

In a statement issued on March 5 last year, the Immigration Department announced it had arrested nine persons in an anti-illegal work operation conducted by its agents in Kwai Chung  eight of whom were Filipinos.

The eighth Filipino was a female overstayer while the ninth was a 51-year-old male Hong Kong resident who was suspected of employing the Filipinos.

The Immigration statement said the eight suspects were caught while performing transporting and wrapping duties in a unit of the industrial building.

The maximum penalty for illegal work is between two and three years in jail and fine of up to $50,000.

 

10 people arrested in latest anti- illegal work sweep

 

One of 8 suspected illegal workers who were arrested it this man

The recent holidays did not stop Immigration officers launching a series of anti-illegal work operations, which resulted in the arrest of 10 people.

A statement from Immigration said the suspects were arrested in joint operations with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and Leisure and Cultural Services Department from Dec 24, 2025 to yesterday, Jan. 1.

Immigration said among the targeted venues were renovation flats, exhibition venues and retail stores.

DETAILS HERE

Eight of those arrested were suspected of carrying out illegal work. They comprised six men and four women, aged 23 to 64.

Two were employers. Their investigation is ongoing, and immigration said further arrests could not be ruled out.

Anyone who takes up work in violation of their visa condition like tourists and domestic helper face a maximum sentence of two years in prison and $50,000 in fine.

Those found to have employed illegal workers could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to $500,000.

Basahin ang detalye!

Separately, if the employer failed to inspect a jobseeker’s travel document if he/she does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card, could also be charged with violating immigration laws. 

If the charge is proven the accused will face a maximum sentence $150,000 in fine and imprisonment for up to a year.

 To report illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

 

Immigration removes 77 asylum seekers

Those removed are escorted directly to the planes that flew them back home

The Immigration Department has sent back a total of 77 asylum seekers, legally classified as non-refoulement claimants (or those seeking to remain in Hong Kong) over five consecutive days - from Dec 15 to 19.

T

DETAILS HERE

hose repatriated were classified as unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants who were either illegal immigrants or overstayers. Included among them were discharged prisoners who had committed criminal offences and were sent to jail.

The removed persons comprised 38 men and 39 women.

Some removed persons are loaded onto a van before they are sent home

Under the updated removal policy which took effect on Dec 7, 2022, Immigration may in general proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review application has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance, even if an appeal was immediately lodged.

Basahin ang detalye!

Immigration says it remains committed to speeding up repatriation, and has been closely working with governments of major source countries, airline companies and other government departments to remove from Hong Kong all unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants as soon as practicable.