Filipina arrested for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes may face 4 charges

 

The Filipina refused to cooperate with FEHD agents, say police

Hong Kong Police have confirmed the arrest of a Filipina in Statue Square on Sunday, and said she is being investigated for three more possible offences.

According to a police spokesperson, the 55-year-old woman could be charged with selling duty-not-paid cigarettes, possession of Part 1 poison (believed to be vape oil), obstruction and breach of condition of stay.

Though the police spokesperson could not confirm if the woman is a domestic worker, the breach of condition charge suggests this to be the case.

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Police records show that at around 12:30pm yesterday the Food and Environmental Health Department received a report about the woman selling what appeared to be illicit goods.

FEHD agents approached her near Exit K of the Central MTR station but she allegedly “refused to cooperate” with them so they called the police. This could explain why there was a swarm of officers in the area after this.

The spokesperson said an analysis of the cigarettes and suspected vape oil was necessary to see if charges would be laid over them.

Hong Kong law prohibits the handling, possession, sale or purchase of cigarettes for which tax was not paid. Violators could face up to HK$2 million in fine and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

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Currently, tobacco duty amounts to HK$3.306 per stick, raised from 80 cents in 2024. This hike brings the tax to around 70% of the retail price, but still slightly the price recommended by the World Health Organization.

Under Hong Kong law, handling, possessing, selling or purchasing illicit cigarettes is a serious offence. Violators face a maximum fine of up to HK$2 million and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Also strictly prohibited by Hong Kong law is the importing, manufacturing, selling of possessing alternative smoking products like vape.

Mere possession of the ASPs in public place could lead to one being fined up to $50,000 and jailed for up to six months. Importing could incur a far more severe penalty of a fine of up to $2 million and 7 years’ imprisonment.

Obstruction in a public place is another serious offence, with penalties of up to HK$5,000 in fine and 3 months’ imprisonment. The fixed penalty for street obstruction was raised to HK$$6,000 in October 2023.

Breaching conditions of stay in Hong Kong, such as overstaying or working without authorization is another serious crime. Convictions can result in a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to 2 years' imprisonment.

The jail time goes up to three years in cases of illegal immigrants, overstayers and non-refoulement claimants who are found to have worked without permission. 

In all cases, an immediate custodial sentence is prescribed for the offender.

Police arrest Pinay for alleged sale of untaxed cigarettes

 

Officers swarm the Filipina who allegedly sold illicit cigarettes (Facebook photo)

A number of photos and videos surfaced online on Sunday, Feb. 1, of a Filipina being surrounded by about a dozen police officers near Statue Square, allegedly for the illicit sale of untaxed cigarettes.

The reported arrest happened at around 3pm beside exit K of the Central MTR station, and was witnessed by hundreds of people on streets surrounding the square.

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In front of the Filipina were several plastic bags containing clothes as well as three black bags that reportedly contained the illicit cigarettes.

(The SUN has sent an inquiry to the HK Police regarding the alleged arrest, but has yet to receive a reply).

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Some netizens commented that the Filipina was known to sell illicit cigarettes in the area quite openly. Others said she also peddled vapes, which are prohibited from being carried, smoked or sold in Hong Kong, but the reports have yet to be verified.

One netizen said, “Parang sya ung nagbebenta ng yosi, dyan ako nabili e (She looks like the one who sells cigarettes, I even buy from her).

Black bags which allegedly contained the untaxed cigarettes

Illicit cigarettes are those for which tax was not paid, making them way cheaper than those sold in regular retail stores.

Under Hong Kong law, handling, possessing, selling or purchasing illicit cigarettes is a serious offence. Violators face a maximum fine of up to HK$2 million and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

The incident happened amid an ongoing crackdown by law enforcers on illicit cigarette sales.

Just two days earlier, Hong Kong Customs announced that it raided three retail outlets and seized around 13,000 suspected illicit cigarettes with a market value of around HK$58,000 with a potential tax loss of around HK$43,000.

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Three people were arrested, including a store owner and two shop assistants.

The two-day operation targeted shops in Sheung Shui, Kwai Chung and Chai Wan after the police received information about cigarettes being sold there at prices lower than the statutory tobacco duty, raising the presumption that no duty was paid for them.

Free healing and meditation sessions offered to FDWs

 

Kriya Foundation teams up with SJMW in holding the healing sessions

Are you suffering from stress, sadness, anxiety, hurt or simple heaviness?  

If yes, these two free sessions of yoga and meditation to help improve mental health  set for Feb. 8 and Feb 15, 11am to 1pm and offered by Kriya Lightning Foundation, might just be the thing you need.

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Co-organizer, Social Justice for Migrant Workers, is calling in particular migrant workers who were affected by the deadly Tai Po fire in November to join the sessions.

Both "Sunday Self-Care" sessions will be held at the Singing Bowl Zentral, 7/F, 66 Stanley Street, Central (close to Lyndhurst Terrace and Central Market near the escalator).

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Kriya is a non-profit organization that offers help to those who seek “peace, inner freedom and happiness.”

Pre-registration is required as the venue has limited capacity. To book your slot, please send a message to SFMW officer  Marites Torralba or call the group’s hotline on WhatsApp, 68720498.

MFMW continues to provide all sorts of help to the Tai Po fire victims

Meantime, the Mission for Migrant Workers continues to provide all forms of assistance to foreign domestic workers affected by the Tai Po fire, including the three Filipinos who have recently been released from their contracts.

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The three are staying at the Missions’ shelter, the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge where they get free relief supplies, clothes, and medical and mental care, plus help with their cases and in dealing with Immigration Department and other government agencies.

To contact the MFMW, call its hotline 9529 2326.

 

35 people arrested in latest anti-illegal work raids in HK

 

A woman suspected of doing illegal work is led away by Immigration agents

The latest week-long sweep carried out by the Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Police have resulted in the arrest of 35 people, of whom 29 were suspected illegal workers and six employers.

The raids carried out from Jan 22 to 29 involved groups that posted housekeeping and renovation services in Hong Kong. Officers who posed as customers booked for services and subsequently arrested four illegal workers who were all from the mainland.

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Those arrested included two men and two women, aged 32 to 58. Two were working as housekeepers while the other two were renovation workers.

In separate operations, Immigration officers targeted usual business locations including restaurants, guesthouses and retail stores.

Of the 31 people arrested, 25 were suspected of working illegally. They comprised 15 men and 10 women, aged 20 to 59.

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They included three women holding recognizance forms that allow them to remain in Hong Kong to pursue asylum applications but not to work. One man was found in possession of a Hong Kong identity card belonging to another person

The six others, four men and two women aged 22 to 61, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.

Immigration said the investigation into the suspected illegal employment is continuing.

Many of the male suspects were found carrying out renovation works

Visitors who are not allowed to take up work or conduct business, or foreign domestic workers who should not work outside their employer’s residences face prosecution and upon conviction, face a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment and $50,000 in fine.

Overstayers, illegal immigrants or those on recognizance face a more severe penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment, and a similar fine of $50,000.

In addition, anyone sentenced to no less than two years in jail for working illegally may be deported under the Immigration Ordinance.  

Those in possession of, or found to have used forged HKID cards, or those belonging to another person, could be punished for up to 10 years in jail and fined $100,000.

Employers face the harshest penalty of being fined up to $500,000 and imprisoned for a maximum of ten years. The High Court guidelines prescribe an immediate custodial sentence for anyone found to have employed an illegal worker.

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

 

DMW plug for OFW Pass gets online jeer

 

A Facebook post by the Department of Migrant Workers today promoting the OFW Pass as a faster, safer and more convenient alternative to the OEC printed Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) has been met with adverse reactions.

“Ang OFW PASS ay ang digital replacement ng printed Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). Mas mabilis, mas ligtas, at mas convenient—lahat ay maa-access na sa eGovPH app,” the post said. “I-download lang ang eGovPH App sa App Store o Google Playstore.”

Fourteen hours after being published, the DMW post has attracted 559 comments, mostly pointing out that the new pass that OFWs should be able to use to travel abroad in lieu of the overseas employment certificate (OEC), was not being recognized at the Manila airport, both by the airlines when they check in and at Immigration.

DMW's latest push for OFW Pass

Some complained of wasted time going back to the DMW counter at the airport terminals to get the their copies of their OEC.

The post also earned 1,000 likes, 166 hearts, 47 laughing, 11 caring, eight angry, five surprised snd four sad emojis.

The post followed the one DMW posted last Dec. 11, 2025, which said: “𝗢𝗙𝗪 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀: 𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

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It urged OFWs to download the GovPH App from the Apple App Store or Google Play. After ID verification, they can go to the DMW section where they can access the Balik-Manggagawa service, which can automatically generate the OFW Pass.

It added that the pass has the following color codes to designate its status: Gray (not yet Generated/Voided), Green (Active), Blue (Used), Amber (Expiring Soon), and Red (Expired).

Another post quoted DMW Sec. Hans Leo Cacdac as saying that the OEC and e-Travel Pass have been combined to make it easier to process OFWs.

He said some 70,000 OFWs have used the pass in its pilot run.

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But some OFWs are  not impressed. A sampling of the comments:

Grace Altillo, who works in Hong Kong: “Hi Department of Migrant Workers opo naka- access na po kami bilang isang OFW. Na print na rin po. Pero ang problema pagdating sa Airport ng Pilipinas, hinahanap parin po pag check-in ang Print Out ng #OEC. Two copies pa hinanap. ISA for (travel tax) refund at yung isa for Immigration purpose.”

Aldrin Bautista: Napaka hassle po.. nagprepare pa din ako nung printed pero pagdating sa immigration eh magkaiba daw sa nandun sa system pinabalik pa ako ng dmw sa airport to verify tas sasabihin po ng staff nyo ay hindi makapagdecide ang immigration.. Sana mayroon kayong proper coordination dahil nakakaabala kayo. Ang haba ng pinila ko sa immigration tas papabalikin lang.. Jusko PILIPINAS!

Jojo Claros Yaun: Hassle ang ginawa nyu sa mga OFW, yung Ibang lahi na mga kasama namiin dito sa Middle East ticket, visa at passport lang (and kailangan para mag-travel)

The comments have yet to be answered by DMW.

Free shuttle, legal support for MWO shelter residents

 

Chavez (with beret) meets media and NGO heads in 2nd day of Filcom consultations

Distressed overseas Filipino workers who will be accepted into the new shelter to be opened by the Migrant Workers Office in far-off Tai Po won’t have to worry about the costs of attending their court hearings or other official appointments as they will be driven there on new vehicles to be bought with funds from the Philippine government.

This was according to Labor Attache Cesar L. Chavez, Jr. during his first meeting on Wednesday with members of Philippine media and some non-government organizations supporting Filipino migrant workers.

“We want everything to be right. It should be the best that the government can do for them,” said Chavez, as he gave more details about the new and bigger shelter that the Department of Migrant Workers has secured for OFWs facing legal, health and other challenges.

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He said the Hong Kong government has yet to give its approval for the new shelter to be recognized as an extension of the Consulate but he decided to make the required payment to secure the lease for the new premises that can accommodate more than 30 residents at any given time, as well as four dedicated staff.

“We are getting four times the allocation for the previous shelter but we really need to provide temporary shelter for more (OFWs in need),” said Chavez.

The bigger funding support from the DMW will also cover the cost of commissioning four law firms to help with court cases involving Filipino migrant workers, including those at the shelter, which he said, appear to be on the rise.

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Along with this, more staff will be added to the assistance to nationals team at the MWO, including translators who should be able to read, speak and write Cantonese.

Chavez disclosed that Social Welfare Attache Rem Marcelino who is with the ATN section is already due for recall to the Philippines, but he has asked that she be retained to help with the transition.

Earlier, the new labor chief told The SUN that a bigger space in the same building in Admiralty is being eyed to replace the space that MWO is now occupying, when their lease ends in August.

Chavez bared many other plans, including making employment agencies and employers more accountable for the Filipino domestic workers that they hire.

These include requiring employers sign an undertaking that they will provide not just for free air ticket, but also luggage allowance for the return home of a Filipino worker whose contract they just pre-terminated.

 

Police probe damage to seatbelt on KMB bus

 

The seatbelt buckle on the KMB bus appears to have been cut

Police were called Wednesday afternoon after a seatbelt was found to have been deliberately cut on a Kowloon Motor Bus plying the Sha Tin to Ma On Shan route.

Two passengers aboard bus 86K told the driver about the cut seatbelt on one of the upper desk seats when the KMB bus arrived at the bus terminus in Ma On Shan at around 5pm.

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Officers who responded to a call from the bus company said they considered it a case of criminal damage.

The incident happened four days after a new regulation mandating passengers to use seatbelts on public and private buses, took effect.

Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to three months’ imprisonment.

The new law presents problems for some passengers who need extra space 

The new law has drawn widespread criticism from passengers who complained of seatbelts that were either dirty, broken, too loose or too tight. Others complained of having to buckle up on short routes.

The public backlash in turn caused Hong Kong’s major political parties for a review after an adjustment period of between six to nine months.

Transport Minister Mable Chan said the department valued the lawmakers’ opinions but stopped short of responding to a call for a review.

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Instead, she reiterated that passengers’ safety was behind the new requirement which aligns with common international practice.

"I want to reiterate that we understand overall that with the introduction of this regulation, people need time to adapt," she said. With this in mind she said enforcement will take into account “legal, rational and humanistic” considerations.

She said authorities will work closely with bus companies to promptly address public feedback on practical concerns, such as seatbelt cleanliness and fit.

Earlier, Chief Executive John Lee told reporters that the recommendation for mandatory seatbelt use was given in the review of the tragic bus accident in Tai Po in 2018, which resulted in 19 deaths and 66 injuries.

“I understand the measure will require a change in behaviour, and passengers may feel inconvenient at the beginning,” said the CE.

However, he said studies showed that buckling up could reduce serious injuries by 70 per cent and deaths by 40 per cent in traffic accidents.

 

Pinay gets 16 months jail for laundering almost $1M

 

File photo

A Filipina whose bank account was one of 13 through which a crime syndicate channeled money it raised from a romance scam, was sentenced today at the Eastern Court to 16 months’ imprisonment for money laundering.

Jennifer Kiaki, 32 years old and holder of a recognizance form to serve as her identification document as an asylum seeker, pleaded guilty to dealing with HK$944,080.50 through her account with Hang Seng Bank Limited between May 20, 2020 and May 13 the next year.

 Her crime was dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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Principal Magistrate David Cheung noted that the operation of the bank account lasted for a year, during which it received deposits from the victims of the love scam.

Magistrate Cheung acknowledged that Kiaki had no knowledge of the scam but he was convinced, based on reasonable inference, that she was involved in the money laundering.

She even participated in withdrawing some of the money from her account, he added.

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In his plea for a lenient sentence, Kiaki’s lawyer suggested a starting point of 12 months’ jail, based on a previous case, but Magistrate Cheung cited another case that suggested a starting point of 24 months.

He arrived at the final sentence by deducting the one-third discount, or eight months, she was entitled to for her guilty plea.

Pinay DH jailed 12 months for laundering $1M

 

West Kowloon Court

Another Filipina whose bank account had been used as depository for more than $1 million that came from crime, was jailed for 12 months today after she pleaded guilty at West Kowloon  Court to money laundering.

Principal Magistrate Don So handed down the sentence to  Aurora Panes, 48 years old, after she admitted dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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The police complaint said Panes, a domestic helper, dealt with $1,013,419.10 through deposits and withdrawals from her Mox Bank account between Feb. 28 and March 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, Magistrate So sentenced Isabelita Quijalvo, 40 years old, to four months’ imprisonment for wounding a fellow Filipina, Marianie Wanal.

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The unemployed Quijalvo was charged with violating section 19 of the Offences Against the Person Ordinance, Cap. 212, Laws of Hong Kong.

The offense took place last Nov. 29 in a flat in Siena Two, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island.

 

 

New labor attaché bares plans for bigger shelter, office space

 

Labatt Chavez promises an open-door policy during his watch

The Philippine Migrant Workers Office is set to open thus week a new and bigger shelter for distressed Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong.

This was one of the changes disclosed by the country’s labor attaché to Hong Kong, lawyer Cesar L. Chavez, Jr, when he met with a select group of Filipino community leaders at the OFW Global Center in Admiralty on Sunday, Jan. 25.

Labatt Chavez said in an interview with The SUN afterwards that he intends to hold more meetings with stakeholders in the next few days so he can get a better grasp of the issues and concerns affecting Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong.

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He said the new shelter in Tai Po will have 6-7 bedrooms, and can accommodate more than 30 OFWs at any given time.

This is more than three times the capacity of the existing halfway-home in Kennedy Town which has three bedrooms and can only take in a maximum of 10 residents.

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Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac first disclosed the move to set up a bigger shelter during his visit to Hong Kong in November last year (see story here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/search?q=OFW+shelter)

Secretary Cacdac said then that he wanted a more vibrant refuge for OFWs in distress, “not ostentatious but something that is clean, up to standard, spacious, and can house a whole array of activities and events.”

Chavez addresses Filcom leader at Sunday's 'meet and greet' (photo by Marie Rivera)

In line with this, Chavez said the MWO is hiring four “house mothers” to oversee operations at the shelters on a permanent basis, so that OFWs who run into trouble can seek refuge there “at any time of the day and night.”

Apart from the four new personnel who will be assigned to the shelter, the MWO is also asking the head office for six additional personnel who will be tasked with handling their frontline operations.

Chavez said one of his immediate concerns is to improve services to the OFWs through automation, installing queue ticket dispensers and providing bigger space for their transactions.

He said there are plans to move the current MWO to a bigger space, also at United Centre building, when its lease expires in August this year.

This should allow the MWO to conduct more trainings and other activities for OFWs, alongside those provided at the OFW Global Centre on the 18^th floor of the same building, which is managed by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

At his dialogue with the Filcom leaders, Chavez said many participants asked for improvement in services, in particular, to address the perennial overcrowding and long queuing time for those applying for the overseas employment certificate, especially during the peak travel season around Christmas.

The queue for OEC applications often spill out into the lift lobby, all the way to the ground floor

Asked if it was possible to get volunteers to help speed up the processing of OEC applications, he said the MWO could not share sensitive records in their system because of data accountability.

But he agreed that those who have not changed employers since they last obtained their OEC need not spend their precious time queuing at the MWO as their records do not need any updating. 

They can simply ask a friend or a volunteer to help them obtain the exit clearance they are required to present at Philippine airports online, wherever they may be.

Chavez took over as MWO head after his predecessor, Melchor Dizon,  retired and went back to the Philippines months ago. Appointed in the interim as officer-in-charge was assistant labor attache Tony Villafuerte who has since been recalled to the home office.

 

Filipina jailed for 57 months in $8.7M money laundering case set to appeal

The bulk of the more than $8 million in tainted money was found in Acosta's Mox bank account

A 40-year-old Filipina who was paid $400 to share her HKID card with two mainland Chinese men for a “game” was today sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment after she was found guilty of complicity in an $8.73 million money laundering case.

The sentence imposed at the District Court on Lynie B. Acosta, a widow with a teenage son in the Philippines, was the longest ever meted on a foreign domestic worker in Hong Kong for money laundering.  

It was made longer by nine months because of the prosecutors’ request for an enhancement of the sentence as further deterrence, citing statistics showing a continuing rise in money laundering cases in Hong Kong.

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A stunned silence followed the pronouncement of the sentence, apparently because of its severity. The defence had urged for leniency in an earlier hearing, saying the sentence should be no more than two years in jail.

Acosta who was already red-eyed at the start of the sentencing, wept as she was led away from the dock. Her lawyer hurriedly gave her instructions on how she must fill up a form so an appeal against her conviction could be launched immediately.

Even before the sentence was read out by District Judge Edward Wong, the defence counsel said he  was lodging an appeal, insisting that Acosta had no involvement at all in the crime she was charged with.

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Outside court, the lawyer said, “She was only told she was going to join a game, and there was no mention at all of a bank account being opened.”

But in sentencing, Judge Wong reiterated his reasons for finding Acosta guilty in an earlier hearing. He said the defendant should have known that the bank accounts that were opened using her HKID card and “selfies” she willingly took for 45 minutes were able to take in money from illicit activities.

“Any reasonable person would find it hard to believe that she did not know the money (that passed through her accounts) was tainted,” said the judge.

This is despite acknowledging the defense submission that there was no international element in the offence, that the defendant had no control over the three stooge accounts opened in her name, and there was no evidence that she made any more money apart from the $400 that was deposited into her Alipay account.

The judge cited a Court of Appeal ruling that a money laundering case in which at least $8 million was involved should merit no less than four years in jail. In that case, the sentence of three years and six months was deemed to be “too low,” he said.

Using 48 months as a starting point, he added a 1/5 enhancement in line with the prosecutors’ request, to come up with a total of 57 months in jail for the first charge, and 14 months each for the second and third charges, with the sentences to run concurrently. 

“There is no mitigating factor involved,” said the judge in closing.

Acosta was charged with three counts of dealing with proceeds from crimes along with three persons, a fellow Filipina named Jane Corpuz and two unidentified Chinese men who she said had tricked her into passing on her HKID card to them, saying it was for an online game.

In the first charge, she and the three unknown individuals are alleged to have dealt with the biggest chunk of the money, amounting to to $8,597,833.36, which passed through a Mox Bank  account in her name between March 25 and May 19, 2023.

In the second charge, Acosta was charged with working with the three in dealing with tainted money amounting to $92,940.08 in her account with the Standard Chartered Bank on March 31, 2023.

The third charge was over the $45,100.78 deposited into her account with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, which she again allegedly dealt with, along with Corpuz and the unknown males.

Acosta pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was put on trial.

In her defense she said she did not know that her personal details that Jane and the two men had obtained would be used to open the three bank accounts in her name. Bank records showed the listed contact person for the accounts was Chinese, with a Sham Shui Po flat as the mailing  address.

During the trial, among those who testified were local people who had deposited money into Acosta's bank accounts for online purchases that were not delivered, including one for a PS5 game console, and another for concert tickets. 

For earlier stories on the case, please click this link: https://www.sunwebhk.com/search?q=lynie+acosta