DH accused of theft claims she lost money in employer’s house

By Vir B. Lumicao

The accused maid said in court that she herself lost money in her employer's  house

A Filipina domestic helper accused of stealing 1,700 renminbi from her female employer in December 2018 said she herself lost $1,500 that she kept in her bag inside the employer’s house in Mid-Levels.

Giving evidence on the second day of a retrial of her case in Eastern Court today, Jun 26, Ana Liezel Berbana said she had saved the money to buy presents before going home that month for an elder sister’s wedding.

The 35-year-old defendant said during questioning by her counsel Philip Ross that the money was still in the bag when she last checked it on Dec 10, 2018.

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She said she had kept her bag in the house of her employer, Wong Ma-nger, on Caine Road in Mid-Levels. “I found out I lost my money on the 20^th, but on Dec 17 it was still in the bag,” she said.

Berbana, a farmer’s single daughter who finished one semester in a BS Nursing course, came to Hong Kong to work for Wong and her family on Aug 21, 2015.

Previously, she worked for two years as a domestic worker in Jordan, and then as a tutor and later, teaching assistant in the United Arab Emirates.   

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Through Ross’ questioning, the defendant described a working relationship with the Wongs in which she served six adults including the employer’s elder son Ming and his wife Victoria, the younger son Wesley and his girlfriend Ellen.

Berbana said Ming and Victoria moved out of the parents’ Caine Rd house to a flat on Conduit Rd, also in Mid-Levels, when Victoria was pregnant. They returned to Wong’s house after the baby was born so the grandmother could help look after the baby.

Ming and his family moved back to the Conduit Rd flat when a nanny they hired arrived, but the defendant was still ordered to go there every day to clean the house and help nurse the baby.

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On Nov 16, 2016, she said her relations with Wesley soured when he asked her about a Hermes scarf that his girlfriend Ellen had left in the Conduit Rd and allegedly went missing.

In March the next year, Wesley again asked Berbana about a blue dress that Ellen could not find. He brought up the blue dress again in August of 2018, and this time, accused her of stealing it. 

The employer’s son also allegedly accused her of stealing money from his father.

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Berbana denied in court that she stole all the items Wesley accused her of taking.

At her lawyer’s questioning, she also denied charges that she stole Rmb1,700 from Wong on Dec 21, 2018.

Berbana said Wong agreed to pay all her Labour Tribunal claims after the presiding officer foiled the employer’s insistence to deduct $4,000 for a loan she supposedly made to the helper.

Despite this, Berbana said her former employer filed a claim against her at the Small Claims Tribunal to claim back the $4,000.

Ross had accused Wong during cross examination of  “stealing” from the maid by deducting $4,000 from her Labour Tribunal settlement.   

Also giving evidence before Berbana took the stand were two male police officers who searched her belongings and arrested her on the night of Dec 21, 2018 after Wong reported the alleged theft.

The officers testified finding the missing money from Berbana’s black jacket that had been hanging on a rod in her room.

The prosecutor began her cross-examination of the defendant by asking her why she had vivid details of the police search of her jacket. The maid appeared unprepared for the question, with the prosecutor saying twice that she didn’t answer the question.

The trial will resume on Jul 23.

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Woman who flew in from Manila among 14 new imported cases in HK

By The SUN

The CHP disclosed the 14 new cases today, all of them imported

A 38-year-old woman who arrived in Hong Kong from Manila was among 14 new cases reported today, Jun 25, by health authorities. 

She was said to be asymptomatic, but was transferred to Prince of Wales Hospital in Shatin for isolation and treatment.

Of the new cases, 12 were returning residents from Pakistan while one flew in from India.

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They were all transferred to hospitals from quarantine centers, except for the woman who had flown in from Manila, who was moved from Regal Oriental Hotel in Kowloon where she was temporarily quarantined while waiting for her test results.

Records published by the Centre for Health Protection showed the woman had been in the Philippines from Mar 14 until she flew to Hong Kong yesterday.

No nationality was mentioned, but it would appear she is a Filipina, most likely a migrant worker, who got caught in the hard lockdown imposed by the Philippine government on Metro Manila starting Mar 16.

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The new cases, aged between 2 and 39, brought Hong Kong’s total tally to 1,193 with one probable case.

The death toll rose to seven today, with a 55-year-old man who was airlifted from Manila on Jun 23 becoming the latest fatality.

The CHP says it is continuing its epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases.

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The public is again warned to maintain good personal hygiene, keep social distancing and avoid going out and taking part in meal gatherings to reduce the risk of community transmission.

The CHP warning mentioned in particular infected persons who may not show symptoms, but could be highly contagious.

With the global tally for the coronavirus now nearing 10 million, people in Hong Kong are also advised to avoid unnecessary travel.

Those who want to know more about the coronavirus situation in Hong Kong may check out the latest information at www.coronavirus.gov.hk or by calling the Covid-19 WhatsApp helpline, 96171823.

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Man who flew in sick from Manila becomes HK’s 7th coronavirus fatality

By The SUN 

The man died at Princess Margaret Hospital two days after being airlifted to HK from Manila

UPDATED: 

A 55-year-old man who flew into Hong Kong from Manila aboard an air ambulance two days ago died early this morning, Jun 25. 

Consul General Raly Tejada said the patient was not a Filipino, though he reportedly arrived in the Philippines days earlier.

That would have made the patient either a permanent resident in the Philippines, or married to a Filipino, as they are the only non-citizens allowed to get into the country as part of coronavirus-related  travel restrictions.

His death was announced by a spokesman for the Princess Margaret Hospital in Kowloon through a government press release.

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According to the hospital’s statement, the patient, identified as patient 1180, suffered from stroke in Philippines and was admitted to a hospital there at the end of May.

“He was escorted back to Hong Kong by air ambulance and was admitted to PMH on June 23. He ran a high fever on admission and was in serious condition.  He was subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. His condition later deteriorated and developed severe sepsis. The patient further ran a downhill course and eventually succumbed at 1.30am today,” said the statement.

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The hospital said it was saddened by the man’s death, and would offer necessary assistance to his family.

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The patient was the third to die in public hospitals in the past five days. The fifth and sixth fatalities, who died on Jun 20 and 23, respectively, both lived in an infected housing block in Lek Yue estate in Shatin.

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Lawyer turns table on employer who had her DH convicted of theft

By Vir B. Lumicao

The employer was accused of 'stealing' the $4k awarded by the Labour Tribunal to her helper

A female employer who caused her Filipino maid to be convicted of stealing 1,700 renminbi in December 2018, was herself accused of owing $4,000 from the helper during a retrial of the case in Eastern Court today, Jun 24.

The two-day retrial of Ana Liezel Berbana, 34, got under way before Magistrate Philip Chan six months after a High Court judge set aside her conviction for theft in the Eastern magistracy.

Employer Wong Ma-nger, who was the prosecution’s principal witness, came under intense questioning from defense counsel Philip Ross during cross-examination.

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Wong said Berbana was on her second contract when the alleged theft happened on Dec 21, 2018.  

She said she put in an envelope 4,000 renminbi in 40 Rmb100 banknotes that her elder son Ming lent her on Dec 20, and kept the cash in a black shoulder bag that she left on her desk. Before this, she asked her son to photocopy the banknotes.

Wong said she checked the money twice in the afternoon the next day but did not count the bills. But at about 6:30 pm that day, she counted the money again and noticed that 17 renminbi bills were gone.

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Wong said she asked Berbana about the missing cash but the maid said she knew nothing about it.

The employer reported the matter to the police around 10pm that same night and the maid was arrested after the money was found in a black jacket that she had hung on a rod. 

Ross asked Wong why she did not lock up the money in the safe, and the employer replied she did not expect it would be stolen. The lawyer then asked why she had photocopied the bills if she did not intend to bait her maid.

 

The employer said she had the missing renminbi notes photocopied before putting them away

He proceeded to ask Wong about whether she had properties. The employer said that had nothing to do with the case, but Ross insisted it could have.

Magistrate Chan said the question was valid, so Wong admitted she has properties, seven residential flats and one commercial unit.

During a 10-minute morning break, Wong spoke to her husband who was waiting outside the courtroom despite her still being under oath as a witness.

Ross disclosed this in court after the break and the surprised magistrate took note of it.

The lawyer then pointed out that contrary to their employment contract, Wong made Berbana work for six adults and take care of a baby.

Wong said that was before her elder son Ming and his wife Victoria moved out of her flat on Conduit Road because the wife was about to give birth.

Ross said at that time, Wong sent Berbana to work for her son’s family as well to clean the house and take care of the baby. At this point, the prosecutor warned Wong she had the right not to answer a question that could incriminate her. Chan sustained her.

The lawyer put the pressure further on Wong when he raised the Labour Tribunal case the helper filed against the employer after her conviction. He said she did not pay the maid despite the tribunal awarding the claims.

Ross said Wong paid only $310 as she deducted a $4,000 loan Berbana supposedly took from her. The defense lawyer put it to Wong she stole $4,000 from the maid because there was no receipt for the loan.

He said the employer made it appear that the loan was realized even though, before the renminbi went missing, she told the maid she could not act on her loan request because she would first ask the “boss”, her husband.  

The trial continues on Friday, with the arresting officers and Berbana due to give evidence.

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Macau shuts door to tourists looking for work

By The SUN

Macau plugs a loophole that allows tourists to land a job in the city (Macau Daily Times photo)  

Macau lawmakers have unanimously approved a bill that prevents tourists from seeking a job during their visit, and eventually getting a non-resident work permit, more commonly known here as a “blue card”.

The measure, which was initiated by the government, was passed by the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday, Jun 23. It will take effect 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

It applies to all non-professional foreign workers and those who work as domestic helpers, but not to those hired as professional workers.

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The bill amends the law on the hiring of non-resident workers, which came into force in 2010. Under this law, non-locals who acquire a work permit under this category are not entitled to right of abode or permanent residency.

Previously, tourists could enter Macau, and upon securing a job contract with a local employer, apply to change their visitor visa status into that of a non-resident worker.

Under the amended law, a local employer must first secure an “arrival notification” from the Public Security Police, which runs the city’s immigration service, for a non-local worker to enter Macau. This will distinguish the incoming worker from a mere tourist.

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Once the worker is issued with a “stay permit”, he or she can already apply to have the “blue card” of a non-resident worker.

The government has said the new law will enable immigration officers to identify whether a person arriving in Macao is coming in as a tourist, or as someone already hired by a local employer.

 

Macau locked its borders as part of anti-virus measures, trapping hundreds of job hunters from overseas

Among those who will be hardly hit by the new measure are the thousands of Filipinos who flock to Macau on a regular basis, all hoping to land a job without paying thousands of pesos to a recruitment agency in Manila, apart from numerous government fees.

Many are unlucky but still stay on, gambling on hopes of eventually finding one that could help lift their family back in the Philippines out of difficulty, if not poverty.

Their plight came into focus when Macau shut down all its casinos and isolated itself in early February, in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.

In a further tightening of restrictions, even blue card holders who were away on vacation were barred from re-entering Macau starting Mar 19, as part of the city’s anti-epidemic measures.

The lockdown resulted in many Filipino job hunters finding themselves trapped in the city, with no work, no money, and with no means to get on a flight back to the Philippines.

Hundreds of Filipinos who lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic added to the number of those stranded in the enclave. They are now all hoping to be repatriated as quickly as possible to avert further hardships.

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Two new arrivals from Manila test positive for Covid-19 at HK airport

By The SUN

The 2 new confirmed Covid-19 patients flew from Manila airport to Hong Kong yesterday, Jun 23 

Two people who flew into Hong Kong from Manila Tuesday tested positive for Covid-19 today, Jun 24, taking the total number of cases to 1,179, and one probable cause.

Both patients, a 47-year-old woman and 55-year-old man, arrived with symptoms.

The woman, who had been in the Philippines since Mar 8, reported developing a cough and runny nose on arrival.

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The man who had a fever, was in the Philippines since August last year.

They were both taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kowloon from the AsiaWorld-Expo testing site for isolation and treatment.

It’s not clear if they are both Filipinos, and what visa status they have.

A Filipino who flew in aboard a Cathay flight from Manila declared he had Covid-19 on arrival 

On Monday, two Filipino males were reported by Hong Kong health officials as having Covid-19.

The first was a 46-year-old who tested positive as he was about to end his mandatory 14-day quarantine after flying in from Manila on Jun 9.

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The second was a 58-year-old man who declared on arrival via CX 906 from Manila that he was found positive a day before his flight.

Both were taken to hospital for treatment, the first, from his home in Wanchai, and the second, straight from Chek Lap Kok airport.

Last week, three Filipinas, likely all domestic workers, tested positive on arrival in Hong Kong on two separate occasions within days of each other.

Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority that as of noon today, 86 Covid-19 patients are still in various hospitals, one of them in critical condition.

The city’s fifth and sixth deaths from the disease were reported on Sunday, Jun 21, and yesterday, Jun 23. Both lived in a Shatin public estate where the last local cluster of infections was reported early this month.

To prevent another similar community transmission, the public is reminded to go out less and avoid having meal gatherings or other social activities to reduce the chance of interacting with infected persons who may not have symptoms.

Everyone is also advised to avoid non-essential travel outside Hong Kong as the novel coronavirus continues to spread in many parts of the world.

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Phl records highest daily Covid-19 tally as total cases near 32k

By The SUN

The 1,150 new cases recorded today is the highest single-day increase

The total number of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines jumped to 31,825 today, Jun 23, after the Department of Health announced a record daily tally of 1,150 new cases.

The additional cases outnumbered the previous highest single-day increase of 1,046 posted on May 29.

Of the new cases, 789 were classified as “fresh,” meaning the patients’ test results were released in three days or less; while 361 were “late.”

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The total recoveries rose to 8,442 with the addition of 299 patients, while the death toll rose to 1,186 after nine more people succumbed to the deadly disease.

The continued surge in cases comes after more than three weeks since the government eased the lockdown of most of the country including Metro Manila, where most of the infections have occurred.

 

Despite  a hard lockdown for nearly 3 months, the rate of infection in Metro Manila continues to climb

Before this, a hard lockdown was in force in much of the country for nearly three months.

Earlier today, President Rodrigo Duterte named Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu as the overseer of the government’s Covid-19 response in Cebu City where the number of infections continues to grow rapidly.

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According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Cimatu was given complete power to do what is necessary to bring down the number of infections in the city.

Last week, Cebu City was placed under the highly stringent enhanced community quarantine as the transmission rate there continued to escalate, while neighboring Talisay was put under modified ECQ.

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More than nine million people around the world have been infected with Covid-19, and   470,000 of them have died from the disease.

 

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Public warned of heat stroke amid ‘very hot’ weather

By The SUN

The "Very Hot Weather" warning was raised today as temperatures rose to over 30 degrees

Hong Kong people have been reminded to beware of heat stroke and sunburn after the Observatory raised the “Very Hot Weather Warning” today, Jun 23.

The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection issued the reminder as daytime temperatures hovered above 30 degrees Celsius.

The highest temperature of 33 degrees was recorded in Lau Fau Shan, Sai Kung, Chek Lap Kok, Wong Tai Sin and Yuen Long Park.

At 5pm the mean temperature was still at 32 degrees Celsius.

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“The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

“Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system,” the spokesman explained.

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The CHP said those who are obese or ailing (including those with heart disease or high blood pressure), the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and should pay more attention to the warning.

The CHP also urged the public to adopt the following precautions:

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1)     Wear loose and light-colored clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;

2)     Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities, such as hiking or trekking, as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;

3)     Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;

4)     For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation;

5)     Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

Hikers or those who do strenuous activities outdoors should take particular care to avoid heat stroke

If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

The public is also cautioned that when the UV Index is high (6 or above), the following should be observed:

1)     Minimize direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;

2)     Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;

3)     Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella; eek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;

4)     Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming, sweating or toweling off; and

5)     If using insect repellents for personal protection, apply sunscreen first. If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

The public may obtain more information from the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.  

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