15 people arrested in anti-illegal work operations

 

Some of those arrested are led away for questioning

Four consecutive days of anti-illegal work operations by the Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Police have resulted in 15 people being arrested.

According to a statement from Immigration, the 15 comprised 12 suspected illegal workers, two employers and one abettor. They were arrested during raids on 81 target locations including restaurants and other commercial establishments between June 9 and June 12.

The suspected illegal workers comprised five men and seven women, aged 21 to 57.

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Three of them, two men and one woman, held recognizance forms that allow them to stay pending the outcome of their application for non-refoulement or deportation but prohibits them from taking up any kind of work. 

Two others, a man and a woman, had forged Hong Kong identity cards in their possession.

One man aged 30 and a woman aged 63, were suspected of employing the workers while another woman aged 32, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting a person to breach the condition of stay.

Immigration warns that anyone who contravenes a condition of stay in Hong Kong, like tourists and foreign domestic workers found to have taken illegal work, faces a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are likewise liable to prosecution and penalties.

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Overstayers and asylum seekers or those on recognizance face a higher maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and $50,000 fine.

Those found in possession of forged HKID cards face a more severe penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.

Employers could be held most culpable for illegal work, with a prescribed maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

45 days’ jail for 3 years’ overstay

 

A Filipino who overstayed his visa for three years has been sentenced to 45 days in prison - effectively, 15 days for each year that he remained in Hong Kong without the permission of the Immigration Director.

Johnson Mockiat, 40, was meted the sentence after he pleaded guilty at Shatin Court Tuesday (June 3) to overstaying, in breach of condition of stay, a violation of section 49 of the Immigration Ordinance.

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Mockiat arrived in Hong Kong on Sept. 8, 2019 as a visitor and was permitted to stay for two weeks.

However, he remained Hong Kong until he was arrested on Feb. 6, 2022.

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During his period of overstay, he has claimed non-refoulement, seeking to prevent the Hong Kong government from forcibly sending him back to the Philippines. The application is still pending.

Immigration's FDH section to have extended office hours

Business hours at the FDH section will be stretched to5m pm Monday to Friday

From June 23, the working hours of the Extension and Foreign Domestic Helpers sections at the Administration Tower at Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O will be extended to 5pm from Monday to Friday.

Thus, the Section will be open from 8:45am until 5pm, instead of closing at 4:30 pm on regular working days. It will be closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

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Most services relating to FDHs like renewal of contracts, change of employer, and entry visa for new FDHs may be done online. Please check this link: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/fdh.html

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For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by the enquiry hotline (2824 6111), by fax (2877 7711) or by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).

Pinay DH, 3 African asylum-seekers charged with conspiracy to steal $259K

 

A Filipina domestic helper has found herself in jail with three African asylum seekers after being dragged into a conspiracy to commit theft.

Cherry Morbo, 31 years old, was remanded in jail with the three others after their case was adjourned to July 4 by Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung at Eastern Court last Friday (May 16).

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It was not mentioned in court how Morbo became associated with Tanzanian Vivian Lymo, 40 years old, Tanzanian Sophia Modsony, 41 years old, and South African Aka Eba, all of them unemployed and using a recognizance form to serve as their identity document.

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It was also not mentioned how any one of  them, including Morbo, is associated, whether personally or by work, to the victim, Peter Thomas Wilkinson

According to charge filed by Wanchai Police last May 10, the four are accused of conspiring to steal $259, 300 from Wilkinson last Feb. 22, in violation of section 9 of the Theft Ordinance and section 159A of the Crime Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

Splash to open Sunday swimming classes for beginners on Tuesday

 

Many of those who have benefited from Splash's swimming lessons are MDWs

A non-government organization that teaches Hong Kong people, including foreign domestic workers, to swim, for free, is set to open registration for its Sunday Beginner programs this coming Tuesday, May 6, starting at 10am.

Splash Foundation says its learn-to swim adult program is designed for absolute beginners, but those with some swim experience are also welcome.

Its Sunday programs are primarily open to migrant domestic workers, and will be held at the West Island School in Pokfulam on all Sundays from May 18 to July 20, at these times:

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·       8:30am - 9:15am

·       9:45am - 11:00am

·       11:00am - 12:15pm

·       12:15pm - 1:30pm

Online registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Splash makes the first class mandatory, and a has a strict attendance policy, so those who register are urged to make sure they are able to take part on the dates and time they choose.

“Don’t take someone else’s opportunity to learn to swim away,” said its statement.

Registration will be through the Splash Foundation website at the button below. Links will be visible starting May 6, Tuesday at 10am.

https://www.splashfoundation.org/en/how-to-register

Basahin ang detalye!

Reminders for registration:

·       Prepare for registration by finding stable internet connection

·       Have your HKID, email address, Whatsapp phone number ready to input

·       Have access to your email account (email address and password ready)

·       Double check all your contact details!  

Email admin@splashfoundation.org if you have any questions

The Splash Foundation started its first swimming lessons in 2015, with a group of 30 migrant domestic workers being taught how to swim by a dedicated group of swimmers at a pool not used on Sunday afternoons.

Since then, it has taught this like skill to more than 7,500 people, mainly migrant workers and children.

Pinay posing as DH gets 4 months’ jail

 

The case was heard at Shatin Court

A Filipina has just realized how serious an offense lying to an Immigration officer is in Hong Kong.

M. David, 32, was jailed for four months Thursday (April 17) after pleading guilty at Shatin Court to a charge of “making a false representation to an Immigration officer lawfully acting under or in the execution of Part III of the Immigration Ordinance.”

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The offense is punishable under section 42(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance.

She was brought to court as a result of lying to an Immigration officer on Oct. 2, 2023 when she was applying for an extension of stay, that she would work for a local resident as a domestic helper, “knowing the same to be false or not believing the same to be true.”

7 Pinoys arrested for illegal work appear in court

 

Immigration Department photo of those arrested 

Seven Filipino men who were arrested for working illegally in a cargo company in Kwai Chung last March 4, have appeared at Shatin Court, charged with violating the Immigation Ordinance and the Immigration Regulations.

Of the seven, only Rodrigo Sarabia, 60 years old, was charged with breach of condition of stay because he was allowed to stay in Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper at the address specified in the employment contract he used to get his visa.

In a hearing on March 19, Sarabia was allowed by Magistrate David Chum to post bail of $1,000.

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Earlier reports said six  of the suspected illegal workers arrested in the raid were asylum seekers or non-refoulement claimants holding recognizance papers which prohibit them from taking up work. The seventh is a male FDH while the eighth was a female overstayer.

Two of the asylum seekers arrested were Junipher Sambalod, 41 years old, and Marcelino Guisinga, 44. Both were also allowed to post bail but at $10,000 cash plus surety of another $10,000.

Both are facing a charge of “taking employment while being a person in respect of whom a removal order is in force” in violation of section 38AA(1)(b) and 38AA(2) of the Immigration Ordinance.

The four others, who are facing similar charges – Julie JR Arcega, 43, Aris Pareja, 51, Christian Mendane, 34, and Joel Lorente, 46 – were returned to jail to await their next court date on April 22.

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Arcega is one of four Filipinos and a Bangladeshi who were cleared by the District Court last March 19 of acting indecently towads a child, but was not freed because he was detained at that time for this case.

Last March 5, the Immigration Department announced it has arrested nine persons in an anti-illegal work operation conducted by its agents in Kwai Chung last Mar 4, eight of whom were Filipinos. The ninth is a 51-year-old male Hong Kong resident who is suspected of employing them.

The statement said the eight suspects were caught while performing transporting and wrapping duties in a unit of the industrial building. They comprised seven men and one woman, aged 34 to 60. 

The woman, who was reportedly an overstayer,  was not among those who appeared in court to face charges. 

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Immigration warned that illegal work is a serious offence that merits a jail sentence.

Those who are convicted of the offence while on tourist or domestic helper’s visa could be jailed for up to two years and fined $50,000.

Recognizance paper holders or overstayers face a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of $50,000.

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

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5 acquitted of indecency towards child after alleged victim changes story

 

District Court

Four Filipinos and a Bangladeshi were acquitted today of “indecent conduct towards a child under the age of 16 years” and common assault, on the third day of their trial scheduled for two weeks at District Court.

Judge Clement Lee told the five -- Benjur Macaraig, 46; Julie JR Arcega, 32; Gina Villanueva, 51; Jimwoel Macaraig, 53 years old; and MD Moazzim-hossain, 42 -- that they had no case to answer after the alleged victim, identified only as X, told the court through a video link that her earlier accusations were a result of a bad dream.

X, now 13 years old and was 10 when she claimed to have been attacked inside their hut on Kung Om Road in Yuen Long on Jan. 3, 2023, was responding to cross examination by a defense lawyer when she admitted that her accusations were from a bad dream.

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She repeated her statement when asked by the lawyer to do so.

All the five as well as X’s parents, are holders of a recognizance form that identifies them as non-refoulement claimants seeking to stop the Hong Kong government from sending them to their home countries.

Only three of the five were set free after Judge Lee’s ruling, as two of them were detained by other courts for unrelated and pending charges of breach of conditions of stay filed by the Immigration Department.

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As non-refoulement claimants, it is illegal for them to accept employment, whether paid or unpaid.

One of them, Arcega, was arrested while working illegally in a door-to-door company’s warehouse, The other, Villanueva, was under detention on an Immigration case.

The trial began last Monday with the prosecutor presenting a videotaped police interview of X describing how the five, who were neighbors of X’s family, entered their house through a broken front door, enter the bedroom where she was home alone, undressed and touched her body.

On the third day, however, she changed her story. 

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Nine persons arrested in anti-illegal work operations

 

Immigration officers lead some of the suspects away

Four consecutive days of raids on various premises have resulted in the arrest of nine people for suspected illegal work.

A statement issued by the Immigration Department on Friday said the operation was carried out from Mar 10 to 13, and targeted 28 target locations, including massage parlors, premises under repair, and restaurants.

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Arrested during the raids were eight suspected illegal workers and one employer.

Six men and two women, aged 21 4o 43, were found to have worked without a valid visa while a man aged 48 was suspected of employing them.

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Immigration reiterated a warning that illegal work is a serious crime, for which the maximum fine is $50,000 and imprisonment for up three years.

In addition, under section 20 (1) (a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant and thereafter, prohibit such immigrant from entering or being in Hong Kong at any time after, if he/she has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.

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Employers could get jailed for up to 10 years and fined a maximum of $50,000.

8 Filipinos arrested for allegedly working illegally in moving company

 

Those arrested included asylum seekers, a FDH and an overstayer 

In a rare move, the Immigration Department announced that eight of nine persons arrested in an anti-illegal work operation conducted by its agents in Kwai Chung yesterday, Mar 4., were Filipinos. The ninth is a local who is believed to have hired them.

Usually, Immigration does not indicate the nationalities of the people they arrest in their anti illegal work operations.

The statement said the eight suspects were caught while performing transporting and wrapping duties in a unit of the industrial building. They comprised seven men and one woman, aged 34 to 60.

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Among them, six men were holders of recognizance forms, or asylum seekers, who are prohibited from taking up any employment.

One man was employed as a foreign domestic helper while the other was an overstaying former FDH.

Arrested with them was a 51-year-old male Hong Kong resident who is suspected of employing them.

The statement said the investigation is ongoing, and more persons involved in the operation may be arrested. 

The recognizance paper held by 6 of those arrested

Immigration warned that illegal work is a serious offence that merits a jail sentence. 

Those who commit the offence while on tourist or domestic helper’s visa could be jailed for up to two years and fined $50,000.

Recognizance paper holders or overstayers face a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of $50,000.

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

 

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HK-bound Filipinos recruited for scam hub stopped at NAIA

 

Alert Philippine immigration officers noticed the victims' questionable documents

Five Filipinos bound for Hong Kong but whose ultimate destination was a scam hub in Cambodia were intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila last February 15 by alert Immigration officers.

This was revealed on Feb 19 by Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado as 12 victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment operations in Myanmar safely arrived at NAIA through the joint efforts of Philippine officials in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a statement, Viado said the five Filipinos intercepted at NAIA – four males and one female - individually presented themselves as tourists bound for Hong Kong aboard a Cebu Pacific flight.

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They initially claimed to be working in popular restaurants or businesses in the Philippines, and entered the immigration area separately, and pretended not to know each other. However, officers noted their suspicious documents and referred them for secondary inspection.

On further questioning the five admitted that on arrival in Hong Kong, they were to transfer to a flight to Cambodia, where they will be employed by a business process outsourcing (BPO) company. 

Officers told them they would likely end up being held hostage by syndicates running online gambling or other illegal activities in the country. 

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Viado warned the public against scam hubs that recruit Filipinos for supposed call center jobs in various Asian countries through social media platforms, particularly Facebook.

The syndicates behind these operations entice job seekers with attractive salary offers and other benefits. But once they reach their destinations they are coerced into taking part in online fraud schemes, including cryptocurrency scams, under exploitative and abusive conditions.

“We urge Filipinos to thoroughly verify overseas job offers, especially those that promise unusually high salaries,” Viado emphasized. 

“Many of these so-called customer service roles are actually covers for large-scale scam networks that take advantage of unsuspecting workers.”

The 12 scam hub victims were met at NAIA by DMW staff

This was what happened exactly to the 12 Filipinos who returned to the Philippines after being victimized by the scam syndicates. 

They were recruited through Facebook by a Filipino who offered them jobs as customer sales representatives in Myanmar.  But once they got there, they were physically abused, beaten with PVC sticks, and subjected to electric shocks. 

When they asked to leave, their employer demanded US$15,000 in compensation. As they had no money to pay the victims fled the scam hub and were helped by the Myanmar military.

Reports later said they were among 250 people held at the Myanmar scam center and released at the Thai border last week.

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The Filipinos were put on board a Cebu Pacific flight to Manila through the joint efforts of the Philippine Embassy, Office of the Police Attache and Migrant Workers Office in Bangkok.

They are now receiving help from the Department of Migrant Workers.

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24 people arrested in crackdown on illegal food couriers

Immigration officers show off the papers they seized from the alleged illegal operation

An operation that lasted more than a month has enabled Immigration Department officers to arrest 24 people suspected of being behind the hiring of illegal workers for food delivery service across Hong Kong.

The operation started on Jan 2 until yesterday, Feb 18, when Immigration officers disclosed details of the operation at a news conference.

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Those arrested comprised 14 suspected illegal workers, all but one recognizance paper holders, or those resisting deportation and are prohibited from taking up any work. They are all non-Chinese males, aged 21 to 54.

Arrested along with them were 10 Hong Kong residents, eight men and two women, aged 17 to 41. They are suspected of engaging in a conspiracy to defraud delivery platforms by selling or renting their food delivery courier accounts to the illegal workers.

Some of those arrested during the operation are led away by operatives

Immigration warned that anyone who violates a condition of stay imposed on him or her while in Hong Kong commits an offence.

A person subject to a removal or deportation order, an overstayer or illegal immigrant faces a maximum prison term of three years and a fine of $50,000.

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Aiders and abettors such as the residents arrested in this crackdown are also liable to prosecution and penalties.

Employers of illegal workers face the more serious penalty of up to 10 years in jail and $500,000 in fines.

 

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