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| The value of the jewelry stolen was so big that the case was heard in District Court |
A 42-year-old Filipina domestic helper was sent to prison
for 16 months today, Aug 27, after she admitted stealing $395,000 worth of jewelry
from her employer over a nearly eight-month period last year.
Charity Faith Ramos, married and a mother of three, stood
meekly as District Court Judge Clement Lee read out the sentence shortly after
she pleaded guilty to theft.
Judge Lee said before sentencing that he would also give
weight to the sentimental value of the stolen items in addition to the breach
of trust.
“I think the employers are wealthy, they can absorb the
monetary loss, but they cannot afford to lose the sentimental value of the
stolen jewelry,” he said.
Ramos admitted stealing more than 20 pieces of assorted
jewelry pieces that the employer, Yu Por-yen, kept in a locked drawer in the
master bedroom of her flat in Homantin, Kowloon
The judge asked Yu, who was in the gallery, which items had
sentimental value. She replied seven necklaces with pendants were given by her
grandmother while the gold ring was a gift from her husband’s grandmother. Six
gold bracelets were wedding gifts.
The prosecution said the employer discovered the theft on
Dec 19 last year when she checked on her jewelry and realized several pieces
were missing. She immediately reported the theft to police.
Officers searched Ramos’ belongings and found 13 pawn
coupons from nine pawnshops where she had hocked the items stolen over a period
starting May 7 last year.
Only 17 pieces valued a total of $245,000 were retrieved
from the pawnshops, but the money that Ramos raised from them was not
recovered, the prosecution said.
The stolen jewelry that were not recovered included one
diamond ring, two diamond necklaces, one diamond bracelet, six gold rings with
gems, a pair of diamond earrings and 7 gold necklaces with pendants.
The defense lawyer said Ramos, who started working for her
employer in 2017, admitted the offense during investigation.
She reportedly needed money for the medical treatment of her
farmer husband who could not work due to asthma and her 76-year-old mother who
was paralyzed.
“I ask the court to consider that the money obtained from the
offense was used for the medical treatment of sick members of her family,” the
lawyer said.
The lawyer also said Ramos was remorseful and reiterated
this in a letter to the court in which she asked for leniency so she could
return to her family.
Judge Lee said Ramos’ financial woes did not justify the
offense and could not even be a mitigation.
The judge deducted one month from the prescribed sentence
for Ramos’ remorse and clear record, then gave a further one-third discount for
her guilty plea.
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