Filipina maid in $14.6 million jewelry theft, 3 others formally charged

By Vir B. Lumicao

  

The  theft case will be moved to the High Court because of the huge amount involved

A Filipina domestic helper who is the main suspect in a $14.6 million jewelry theft in her employer’s house in Deepwater Bay appeared in Eastern Court today, Aug 24, pending the transfer of her case to the High Court.

Carmelita G. Nones, 45, was charged with six counts of theft involving about 200 jewelry pieces, watches and gold bars from the house of her employer, former New World Development executive director David Liang.

Two of her relatives and a third Filipina were also charged in two separate cases of handling stolen goods, allegedly for helping Nones hide and hock her loot at various Hong Kong pawnshops.

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No plea was taken from any of the defendants, and they were all remanded in custody. The prosecution said it would prepare the documents for the consolidation of the cases and their transfer to the High Court.

Magistrate Stephanie Tsui ordered the charges read to defendants individually: first, to Nones; then her niece, Maricris G. Nones who faces five counts of handling stolen goods; and then her friend Cristina Alagna, who is charged with seven counts of handling.

Last to be called was Marina G. Biala, said to be Nones’ sister, who was charged with one count of handling stolen goods, though the particulars of her case were not read out due to lack of time.

 

A gold Piaget watch like this one opened the lid to the alleged multi-million dollar theft

The alleged theft, the biggest ever involving a Filipino domestic helper, was reportedly discovered on Sept 4 last year when Liang reportedly looked for his gold Piaget watch worth $100,000 that he had left in his bathroom for some time.

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Afterwards, a matching Piaget watch belonging to Liang’s wife, Helen Frances Liang,  was also found missing. Nones allegedly admitted taking both watches.

Nones was arrested and initially charged with stealing the two watches worth a total of $200,000 between Jul 27 and Aug 11 this year. 

But as the Liangs began an inventory of their jewelry and ornaments collection, they discovered that a lot more items were missing.

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The thefts allegedly happened over a 15-month period, from May 13, 2018 to August 11, 2019.

Nones’ alleged initial haul was itemized in charge no. 6. They included three bangles, three bracelets, two pairs of earrings, two necklaces and four rings belonging to Mrs Liang.

The names of Maricris and Cristina reportedly appeared in the pawnshop receipts for the stolen jewelry, resulting in the filing of charges against them.

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The prosecution accused the pair of receiving the goods and pawning them for Nones despite knowing that they were stolen from the employer.

A separate haul of stolen jewelry pieces was reportedly found in a bag that Biala had been keeping for Nones.

Biala offered to post a $6,000 bail, and said she could stay in her employer’s house, but Magistrate Tsui rejected her application, saying she has no local ties and might abscond.

The magistrate also said the amount involved was huge, the case was very serious and the evidence was strong.

Tsui adjourned all three cases until Nov 9, when they will all be officially moved to the High Court.

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Filipina DH falls to her death in Kwun Tong

By Vir B. Lumicao

 

The victim fell to her death from one of these tower blocks in Kwun Tong

A 38-year-old Filipina domestic helper reportedly depressed because of family problems fell to her death from a residential building in Hing Tin Estate in Lam Tin, Kwun Tong district today, Aug 24, the Hong Kong police reported.

A police spokeswoman said the incident happened at 6:33 this morning. The victim was rushed to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong where she was certified dead upon arrival.

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The officer said a security guard at the estate called the police after he went out to check after hearing a loud bang and saw the body of the woman on the podium.

The police report did not mention other details of the incident, but the spokeswoman said officers had talked to the employer of the victim.

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She said there was no suicide note, and there were no suspicious circumstances.

But the officer said that information gathered by investigators showed the victim had been depressed for the past few days.

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“She was unhappy about family problems in her hometown,” she said.

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Individuals with suicidal tendencies or depression are advised to call the 24-hour multi-lingual hotline of The Samaritans at 2896 0000.

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New Covid-19 cases drop to 9, including 2 FDHs

By The SUN

The  source of infection of the Indonesian DH who lives in this North Point building is unknown

 The number of new Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong has fallen to single-digits, the first time this has happened in six weeks. The total number of cases now stands at 4,692 with 77 deaths.

But health authorities warn residents should not rest easy as there are still some infections with unknown source. Of the seven local cases today, four have no known sources.

They include a 45-year-old Indonesian foreign domestic helper who lives in Comfort Gardens in North Point. She is the second Indonesian DH to test positive in as many days. The one yesterday is a leukemia patient believed to have been infected by her employer.

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According to Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection, all the untraceable cases today, including the Indonesian FDH, did not do anything extraordinary, except eat in neighborhood restaurants or shop for groceries.

The two imported cases are a student who just returned from Switzerland, and a 46-year-old Filipino domestic helper who flew in from Manila on Aug 13, and tested positive on the second sample while under quarantine at the Silka Seaview Hotel in Yau Ma Tei.

The Filipina DH who tested positive flew in from Manila 11 days ago 

Dr Chuang said that although the overall tally is evidently on the decline, there is still “silent transmission” in the community, likely from asymptomatic carriers.

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“We have a single-digit number today, but we have more than 10 preliminary cases,” Chuang pointed out.

She added that from the public health point of view, any relaxation of social distancing measures could result in an increase in cases, but there are other factors to consider in deciding whether the restrictions could already be lifted.

She said the upcoming universal testing could help them identify the silent carriers so they can be isolated and treated, and stop them from infecting others.

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Among the dozen or so preliminary positive cases is an 83-year-old woman who was taken by ambulance to the emergency room of the Tin Shui Wai hospital, and immediately put in the trauma ward where she was intubated. After testing preliminary positive, she was moved to Tuen Mun hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

As for the sick Indonesian domestic worker who tested positive yesterday after being put in two general wards of the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Dr Chuang said no new infection was detected from about 50 people identified as her close contacts.

Fifteen of the patients who had stayed with her in the wards and are still in hospital have all tested negative, while nine of the remaining 35 have yet to pass the 14-day observation period, so they will be sent to quarantine centers.

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Chuang again apologized for the “mix-up” which resulted in the Hospital Authority not being told that the Indonesian helper should have been considered a close contact of her employer who tested positive earlier.

Dr Sara Ho of the Hospital Authority said of the nearly 4,700 cases, only 526 remain in public hospitals and community treatment facilities, with 27 in critical condition, 37 in serious condition, and 462 in stable condition.

After three staff members of a mental health facility in Lei Muk Shue tested positive yesterday, about 50 other workers there were classified as close contacts and will be sent to a quarantine centre.

The 40 patients in the facility will be moved to the AsiaWorld-Expo community isolation facility, where there will be care staff who will look after them.

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Elderly Fil-Am, ex-DH in court on separate drug trafficking cases

By Vir B. Lumicao

Nearly 3 kg of cocaine was found in this suitcase allegedly belonging to the elderly FilAm

An elderly Filipino-American man who was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport in July last year for carrying 2.8 kilograms of suspected cocaine in his luggage has chosen to stand trial on a charge of drug trafficking.

Rodolfo Purugganan, 77, appeared today, Aug 24, before Magistrate Stephanie Tsui in Eastern Court and said through a duty lawyer assigned to him that he wanted to plead not guilty to the charge.

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Though he was said to be a US citizen, Purugganan spoke to the court with help from an Ilocano interpreter.

Tsui ordered that the charge be read to the defendant so he could confirm it, reminding him that if he pleads guilty, the magistrate would commit him to the Court of First Instance for sentencing.

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The defendant confirmed the charge and said he chose to trial, prompting Tsui to announce the transfer of the case to the High Court.

The magistrate instructed Purugganan to prepare his documents for the trial and, if he is going to submit an alibi, to do it no later than 10 days before the trial. She said he can apply for a lawyer from the Legal Aid Department.

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Purugganan, who has been in custody since his arrest on July 12, 2019, said he had no bail application, so Tsui ordered him remanded in custody.

The court heard that the defendant was arrested by Customs officers upon arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after they found the slab of cocaine concealed in the false compartment of his luggage.

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The defendant reportedly flew to Ethiopia from Brazil, then on to Hong Kong.

During laboratory processing, the drug yielded 1.54kg of pure-grade cocaine, which the Customs officers had estimated to have a street value of $2.3 million. The accused was charged in West Kowloon Court with trafficking in a dangerous drug.

 

Both cases will be heard at the High Court because of the seriousness of the charges

Meanwhile, a Filipina who used to work as a domestic helper and her African co-defendant also appeared before Magistrate Tsui today for another hearing of their drug trafficking case.

The woman, Alma P. Montano, has been charged with attempting to traffic in dangerous drugs. Her co-defendant, Ifeanyi Nwokeji, has been charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs. No details of the case were read out in court.

The magistrate adjourned the case until Nov 2 after the prosecution asked for more time to prepare before the case is transferred to the High Court.

The two did not apply for bail and Tsui remanded them in custody.

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Distancing protocol forgotten as crowds close in on North Point flower tunnel

By Vir B. Lumicao

The main attraction in the North Mall display is this 20-meter long wisteria tunnel

It was just a miniature of the Japanese wisteria gardens in Fukuoka, but for the mostly foreign domestic helpers fortunate to be having their day out today, Aug 23, the new attraction at Harbour North Mall in North Point was still a gorgeous photo opportunity.

The FDHs joined hundreds of other people in descending on the “Summer Watterfly” spectacle along the mall’s promenade, causing a big problem for security officers enforcing the social distancing protocol in the area.

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Whenever the crowd thickened, a lone mall guard went around the garden raising a poster that reminded the public to wear masks and observe 1.5-meter distancing.

 

No one paid heed to the staff holding up a sign telling people to maintain distance 

“Dalian mo, dalian mo! Nandiyan na naman ang bantay,” a Filipina visitor told her companion as she posed for a photo with the tunnel’s mid-section as a backdrop.

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No one seemed to bother about the guard, as they parted just a little when he came near, then pressed again towards the hydrangea forest as soon as he turned his back.

At 3pm, mall staff had to block the opening and exit of the 20-meter long tunnel with blue plastic boards to keep the crowd at bay.

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But all that effort was put paid by everyone with a cell phone, intent on having their pictures taken in front of the blue, pink, purple and white wisteria tunnel hedged by a matching variety of hydrangeas.

 

Among the early visitors were the administrators of the online group, Domestic Workers Corner 

The display, which is over 3,000 feet wide, also features a gigantic butterfly installation, as well as a wisteria wishing tree and many purple flower-themed installations inside the mall.

Just before the display opened at 10am today, scores of people, many of them FDHs, gathered at the promenade near the North Point Ferry Pier, each one eager to be the first to walk in pairs through the tunnel, or to simply snap a few shots.

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Walking through the flower tunnel is free, but you must sign up for membership in The Point by SHKP. A lady staff at a booth by the passage to the tunnel signed up guests who wanted to try the five-minute walk.

The display, which was meticulously patterned after the Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Gardens in Kitakyushu, will be a daily feature of the mall until Oct 4. It follows the success of an earlier event, the Spring Sakura display.

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Indo with leukemia tests positive for Covid-19 after stay in 2 hospital wards

By Vir B. Lumicao

The Indonesian patient stayed in two wards of Eastern Hospital before she was found infected

An Indonesian maid with leukemia who has been confined in hospital since July 27 has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, with health officials finding out too late she was a close contact of an earlier Covid-19 patient.

The helper was among 25 new cases that were reported today, Aug 23, by the Centre for Health Protection. The new cases took to 4,683 the total tally of Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong. Two more deaths were reported, raising the toll to 77.

There were fewer than 10 preliminary positive cases.

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Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the CHP communicable disease section, said the helper, 44, was only isolated on Saturday at Pamela Youde Nethersole Hospital after testing negative previously.

Chuan said the maid’s employer who was also in the hospital did not tell CHP that the Indonesian was her close contact. The CHP learned only about it from a friend of the maid during contact-tracing.

By then, the maid had been in close contact with more than 50 people during her stay at two wards in the hospital. Chuang said all these people will be isolated, as she apologized to the Hospital Authority for the mix-up.

Chuang apologized that CHP did not find out early enough that the Indonesian was a close contact

Six of the new cases were imported, including a 20-year-old Bangladeshi man and a 44-year-old Malaysian crew of a cargo ship quarantined off Lamma Island, where three other seafarers on board tested positive earlier this month.

A 30-year-old Indian mother, her 3-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, as well as a 27-year-old Indian male, all of whom arrived on an Air India flight on Aug 11, also tested positive while under quarantine, Chuang said.

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Also among the new patients were three staff of the Hong Chi Lei Muk Shue Hostel for the mentally handicapped, prompting the CHP to quarantine all its personnel and residents.

Chuang said the three developed mild symptoms on Aug 18, including headache and cough. The hostel has around nine rooms with five residents in each.

A container truck driver at Kwai Tsing Container Port who lives in Tsz Wan Shan also tested positive, Chuang said.

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The CHP tested 6,800 samples from the port and the driver’s sample, which he submitted on Aug 21, was found to be infected. Chuang said the patient did not work for Wang Kee Port Services Ltd, where more than 50 staff have so far been found infected.

Chuang said the driver tested negative in July, but a recent test showed he was infected.  He did not use the common facilities at the terminal, which is suspected as the transmission channel for most of the cases.

Dr Lau Ka-hin, chief manager of the Hospital Authority, said that two more patients passed away in the past 24 hours, including an 82-year-old woman whose death was reported last night. The other was a man who died at Caritas Medical Centre also last night.

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He said 44 confirmed patients have recovered and were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing to 4,018 patients the number of those released.

A total of 536 confirmed patients are currently confined in 20 public hospitals and at the AsiaWorld-Expo community treatment facility. Of these, 26 are critically ill, 36 are serious, and the remaining 472 are in stable condition.

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FDHs about to move in with new employers urged to get free Covid-19 test

By The SUN

 

Even those in shelters not run by agencies are encouraged to take the test

Starting tomorrow, all foreign domestic helpers whose previous employment contracts have expired or terminated and are waiting to move into their new employer’s home, may make an appointment for a free Covid-19 test.

A statement posted on the government website today, Aug 23, said the Labour Department will take charge of the registration, which is voluntary and free of charge.

However, it is likely employers will make the test a requirement for the new FDHs about to move into their households, as the LD statement came with an appeal to employers to ensure their new helper gets tested before moving in.

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The LD’s press release said eligible FDHs should register for an appointment by telephone, and provide their specimens at a specific time slot at Harbour Road Sports Centre in Wanchai, the designated temporary specimen collection center.

The move comes in the wake of the free tests offered to all FDHs staying in boarding houses of employment agencies starting Aug 9, after a series of infections were detected in some of these temporary housing facilities.

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It is estimated as many as 6,000 FDHs are staying in boarding houses or agency-run dormitories while waiting for their new employment visas to be issued by the Immigration Department.

But Labour Secretary Law Chi-kwong said on Friday that only about 1,800 FDHs availed of the free tests, and only one positive case was found.

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Realizing that many more FDHs who are in-between jobs are staying in boarding houses not connected to agencies, the LD said the government decided to expand the testing service to cover all those who are about to move in with their employers’ families.

"We strongly encourage FDHs staying in boarding facilities to actively participate in the free test to safeguard their health,” said the statement.

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“Participants will be notified of the test results via SMS in about two to three days after collection of specimen, and positive cases will be referred to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health for follow-up. If an FDH needs to stay in a boarding facility for an extended period of time while waiting to change employer, he/she may re-take the test as appropriate, especially before joining the new employer's family.”

The department called on the agencies for help in convincing qualified FDHs to register and take the test.

“We also advise employers to check that their new FDHs have a valid negative test result before joining the family,” said the statement.

 

Employers are advised to get their new FDHs tested before allowing them to move in

FDHs who are currently employed are also encouraged to have themselves tested through the Universal Community Testing Programme to be launched by the Government on Sept. 1.

The specimen collection center for FDHs staying in shelters is located at Harbour Road Sports Centre, 27 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. The centre will commence service on August 25, opening daily from 8.30am to 8pm, and will operate until September 30.

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Eligible FDHs will be given a free combined nasal and throat swab testing service. To avail of this, FDHs may dial the registration hotline 1836 133 starting from tomorrow, Aug 24, 9am to 9pm daily, to make an appointment for specimen collection on Aug 25 or later. 

Same-day appointment will not be offered by the registration hotline, and any request without prior appointment will not be accepted.

Duty officers of the telephone booking service center will register the name, Hong Kong Identity Card number and/or passport number and mobile telephone number of the FDH.

To determine their eligibility, the FDHs will be asked for additional information, such as the reference number and limit of stay as shown on the latest visa issued to them by the Immigration Department, or the reference number/date of application for a visa/extension of stay as a visitor.

FDHs who wish to make an appointment are advised to prepare the relevant documents beforehand for a smooth registration. Upon successful registration, an SMS to confirm the date, time and location to conduct the collection of specimen will be sent to the FDH.

On the appointed date and time, the FDH will be asked for her/his Hong Kong ID card, passport and the SMS appointment confirmation to verify their identity. He/she will be asked to sign a consent form and confirm his/her eligibility for the testing service.

Participants will be notified of the test results (whether positive or negative) via SMS. All positive results will be made known to the LD which is the only agency with access to the patient’s identity. LD will then refer the case to the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up and treatment.

All enquiries may be sent to the LD by email at fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk

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