Central salon, shops targeted in Immigration crackdown on illegal work

 By The SUN

Immigration officers take away one of the suspects (GIS photo)

Another four-day sweep conducted by the Immigration Department aimed at flushing out illegal workers targeted 14 locations in Central, including restaurants, retail shops and a salon.

According to a press statement issued by the government Friday, one suspected illegal worker, one suspected employer and one person found in possession of a Hong Kong ID card belonging to another were arrested during the operation codenamed “Champion.”

The suspected illegal worker is a man aged 38, who holds a recognizance form which prevents him being deported for staying in Hong Kong without a valid visa, but prohibits him from taking up any employment.

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A 47-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of hiring the worker, while the person who was in possession of somebody else’s HKID card is a man aged 51.

The raids were part of territory-wide operation codenamed “Twilight” and “Lightshadow” conducted by Immigration and police officers from Apr 25 to 29.

Apart from the three, eight other suspected illegal workers and four suspected employers were arrested.

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The raids targeted 37 locations, including a car park, food and beverage stalls, a garbage collection depot, premises under renovation, and even residential buildings.

Immigration warns that anyone who violates a condition of stay, including visitors who take up employment, whether paid or unpaid, is liable to prosecution and if convicted, faces a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment.

Aidors and abettors are equally liable to prosecution and penalties.

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The penalty is higher for an illegal immigrant, recognizance holder or overstayer. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment.

Those who use someone else’s Hong Kong ID card face even harsher penalties, with the maximum fine set at $100,000 and a jail term of up to 10 years.

However, the most severe penalties are reserved for employers of any of these illegal workers.

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Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty prescribed for the employer has been raised from $350,000 in fine and three years’ imprisonment to $500,000 in fine and 10 years’ imprisonment.

The director, manager, secretary, partner, or any officer of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability.

In addition, an immediate custodial sentence or imprisonment is prescribed for the employer of an illegal workers in accordance with the sentencing guidelines issued by the High Court.

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According to the court, employers must take all practicable steps to ensure the person is lawfully employable. Apart from inspecting the job applicant’s HK ID card, the employer is duty-bound to make further enquiries to ensure the lawful employability of the person.

If the job-seeker has no HK permanent ID card, the employer is obligated by law to inspect the applicant’s valid travel document. Failure to do this could result in the employer being prosecuted and if found liable, face a maximum fine of $150,000 and jailed for up to a year.

“In that connection, (Immigration) would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers,” said the government statement.

At the same time, Immigration will conduct initial screening of “vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers who are arrested during any operation” to determine whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims.

Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other support services.

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High Court throws out retired British doctor's conviction for sexual assault on Pinay DH

 

A retired British doctor sentenced to 30  months’ jail for two cases of sexual assault on his Filipina domestic helper, has had his conviction and sentence quashed by the High Court.

Brian Drew Apthorp, 85, had appealed last July's judgment of Eastern Court Magistrate Daniel Tang on the ground that his lawyer was not allowed to cross-examine the alleged victim, after he had done so himself in the first two days of his trial.

Court of First Instance Judge Esther Toh agreed with Apthorp in a decision handed down on  April 29.

“Because of that refusal, justice had not been seen to be done, and therefore, the conviction is clearly unsafe and unsatisfactory,” Judge Toh said.

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“Therefore,” she added, “the appeal against conviction is allowed, the conviction and sentences are quashed.”

While Apthorp was cleared of the two sexual assaults, he faces another set of charges involving the same domestic helper, identified as CB, and at least two other Filipinas who had also worked for him and were shown on video during his trial, to have engaged in sexual acts with him.

CFI Judge Russell Coleman, in a separate decision on April 23, ordered the police to reinvestigate CB’s complaint to look into whether she and the two others were also victims of sex trafficking and forced labor.

 “… I think the facts of the CB case do establish the ‘causal connection’ between the particular failures in the case and the lack of a bespoke criminal offence,” said Judge Coleman.

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He also said such legislation should not only cover FDHs as urged by CB’s counsel, Abraham Chan, SC, but all other people who might be victims of forced labor and exploitation under section 4 of the Bill of Rights.

In her decision, Judge Toh noted that the same domestic helper, whom she identified as X, started working  for Arthorp on Sept. 5, 2018 as a replacement for another Filipina named Janice.

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X complained that the retired doctor conducted an examination of her private part in his bedroom without her consent.

When she told Janice about it, the latter explained that it was a pap smear test which she herself underwent.

X also complained that after regular massages, she was forced by Arthorp to masturbate him. She presented video clips she filmed herself, showing her massaging Arthorp, who was naked. In one of the videos, he was shown asking her to hold his penis.

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During his trial, Apthorp did not give evidence or present witnesses. He cross-examined X  for two days before the court adjourned.

When the trial resumed, Apthorp brought a solicitor who applied to have X recalled for further cross-examination.

But Magistrate Tang refused, saying that since X had been cross-examined and re-examined, he was reluctant to recall her.  Besides, the lawyer did not cite authority on which to base his request.

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Magistrate Tang also cited his discretionary power, to which Judge Toh agreed, to recall a witness and that his primary concern was the interests of justice.

He also asked Apthorp several times early in the case if he needed a lawyer, and that he had given him enough time and chance to cross-examine X and that the court had given him assistance when necessary.

But to Judge Toh, in sexual assault cases such as this where there are no witnesses, it is essential to test the credibility of the accuser, which Arthorp had failed to do when he defended himself.

“It is clear that this is not the type of case where merely putting the case for the defence to X would be anywhere near sufficient for the Appellant to get a fair trial.  It is clear with the many issues involved that a forensic cross-examination was required in the circumstances, particularly when it is alleged that X had demanded monetary compensation from the Appellant as well,” she said.

“It is a difficult case for a defendant to manage on his own in the best of circumstances.  But when one has a defendant with early stage of Alzheimer’s disease and with the complicated factual background in this case, it became more apparent that he required a lawyer in order to fully put his case across,” she added. 

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Filipinos urged to vote as daily tally drops to ‘low 700’

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Voting at Bayanihan Centre is a lot faster now, says Congen Tejada 

Consul General Raly Tejada has called on registered Filipino voters in Hong Kong to cast their ballots if they have not done so yet, as the daily tally dropped to a “low 700” on Friday.

“It’s the lowest turnout,” said Congen Tejada, even as he said that after 20 days of voting, the overall number of votes cast so far has reached almost 39,200.

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After hitting peak numbers in the past three Sundays, Congen said the daily tally had gone down to below 1,000 for all days this week: about 700 on Monday, 900 on Tuesday and Wednesday and 800 on Thursday.

“Parang humihina,” he said. (It seems to be losing steam).

He is hopeful the numbers will pick up again this weekend, as well as on May 2 and May 9, which have both been listed as statutory holidays as Labour Day and Buddha’s Birthday both fell on the Sundays preceding.

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He also pointed out that voting has now been made much easier, with all 10 precincts and their corresponding vote-counting machines in full use, apart from a new queuing system implemented since last Sunday that allows people to get into the Bayanihan polling centre a lot faster.

With 93,265 registered to vote, the turnout so far is already at more than 42%, slightly higher than the total number registered for the last mid-term election in 2019.

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Congen hopes to pull the numbers higher to match, if not surpass, the 45% turnout for the last presidential election in 2016, which saw President Rodrigo Duterte taking a huge chunk of the votes.

Current presidential aspirant Ferdinand E. Marcos also won the Hong Kong vote by a wide margin, but lost in the national count to incumbent Vice President Leni G. Robredo, who is also contesting the highest post this year.

The turnout so far has already exceeded that for the 2019 mid-term election (file)

There is enough time to top the previous turnout for a national vote, given that there are 10 more days to go before overseas voting ends on May 9, when all registered voters in the Philippines get to cast their ballots at the same time.

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Overseas voting continues at Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town every day, including Sundays and public holidays, from 8am to 5pm, except on the final day when the voting is extended until 7pm.

Those voting overseas get to choose a president, vice president, 12 senators, and one party-list from the ballot that is given them, and which they get to feed directly into a VCM.

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The tallying and canvassing of votes will follow immediately after voting closes at 7pm on May 9.

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HK to lift warning on overseas travel as Covid caseload drops to 366

By The SUN 

HK will lift the travel warning as it opens up to the rest of the world from Sunday

Hong Kong’s daily Covid tally has continued to go down, with 366 new infections being recorded Friday, around 50 fewer than yesterday.

Of the new cases, 196 were confirmed via PCR tests and 170 came from rapid self-tests by residents who reported the results to a government platform.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said there were 14 imported cases, eight of which were detected on arrival at Hong Kong airport yesterday.

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Among the new arrivals, three flew in aboard flight CX270 from Amsterdam and four on flight EK384 from Dubai and Bangkok. Both flights have been suspended from flying to Hong Kong for a week in line with regulations.

The two other passengers came via CX104 from Melbourne and CX363 from Shanghai.

Dr Lau Ka-hin of the Hospital Authority reported 11 deaths, pushing the death toll to 9,085.

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Six of the deaths were recorded in public hospitals yesterday, while the rest were reported by forensic pathologists, indicating the patients had died at home.

A total of 1,530 patients are confined at public hospitals and treatment facilities. Eight of them are in intensive care in critical condition, while one is in serious condition.

In the past 24 hours, 148 patients have recovered and have been discharged, taking the number of recoveries since 2020 to 60,205.

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Meanwhile Chuang called on all residents to continue avoiding non-essential travels abroad, even as the government announced that it will lift the outbound travel alert for all overseas countries from Sunday.

The move will coincide with the opening of Hong Kong’s borders to all overseas travelers, including non-residents, as long as they are fully vaccinated.

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A statement issued by the government said the lifting of the red alert which has been in effect since Mar 17, 2020 is due to the easing of the coronavirus situation in places with frequent traffic to Hong Kong.

HK says it will keep its strict boarding and testing control despite easing up on inbound traffic

However, the government said it will continue to control the volume of inbound traffic by maintaining strict boarding and quarantine measures, and limiting the number of designated quarantine hotels (DQHs).

With the expected surge in the number of travelers from abroad starting Sunday, nine more DQHs providing a total of 4,000 rooms have been added to the list. These are:

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1.The Charterhouse Causeway Bay
2. Dorsett Kwun Tong, Hong Kong
3. Nina Hotel Kowloon East
4. OZO Wesley Hong Kong
5. Regala Skycity Hotel
6. Regal Kowloon Hotel
7. Silka Seaview Hotel Hong Kong
8. Silka Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong
9. The Langham, Hong Kong

The full list of DQHs may be viewed here: www.designatedhotel.gov.hk

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Romantikong day off kahit pandemic

Sherry Molina

Pagkatapos ng unos nanumbalik ang mapusok na pagsinta

Sa buhay mag-asawa ay dumarating ang iba’t-ibang pagsubok.  Matagal nang  nagtatrabaho dito si Sherry Molina at sa katunayan ay tinulungan ng amo na makarating at magtrabaho din dito ang asawa niya.  Sa unang taon ng kanilang pagsasama dito ay naging napakaligaya ngunit kalaunan ay napuna niyang naging madalang ang paglalambing nito sa kaniya parating dahilan nito na pagod at abala sa trabaho. Naging madalang na silang magkita dahil sa panahon ng pandemic hindi siya pinapalabas ng amo dahil may alaga siyang bata.

Minsan habang nagbabasa ng Sun web page nabasa niya na nagkaroon ng magandang karanasan ang Pinay na gumamit ng upgraded Dream Love 1000 seksuwal na pabango, gawa sa England.  Nabasa din niya ang mga komento sa artikulo na patungkol sa nasabing pabango at naengganyo siyang sumubok nito. Sinabi sa sariling magwiwisik nito kapag pinag day off ng amo. Tinawagan ang pinsan na ipakibili ng nasabing perfume at dalhin kapag dadalaw ito. Magkapatid ang mga amo nila at allowed mamasyal sa kanila ang pinsan.

Sumunod na araw ay dumalaw ang pinsan dala ang pabango eksakto na sinabi ng amo na magday off siya. Ginamit ang pabango bago magkipagtagpo sa asawa na pinag day off din ng amo nito. Nagkita sila at napansin niyang naging mapusok ito sa kaniya dahil hindi lang yakap ang ginawa nito kung naging makulay ang buong maghapon na day off nila. Muli silang naging masaya.

 

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*Naghahanap ka man ng pag-ibig, nang-aakit ka man ng lalaki, o gustong maging tapat ito sa iyo, o gusto mong ikaw ang ikasal sa halip na maging abay lang sa kasal, kung gusto mong may pagbabago ng saloobin ang iyong amo sa kabaitan, at maging kaakit-akit sa paningin ng lahat... 

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Amazing visible changes pagputi ng kutis at pagslender ng katawan

Jane Denna: Before and after

Mga pekas naresolba nagkaroon ng maputing kutis at shaped body

Matagal nang panahon na iniinda ni Jane Denna ang pagiging dry at ang sensitibo niyang balat. Kaunting gasgas lamang ay nagiging malaking sugat na kung kaya panay ang punta niya noon sa dermatologist niya. 

Marami na siyang nasubukan na whitening creams para lamang malunasan ang mga peklat ngunit hindi naging epektibo sa kanya. Minsan nang magkita sila ng pinsan ay inabutan siya nito ang Dream Love 1000 5 in 1 Body Essence Lotion, gawa sa England at may tatak na Supreme Hong Kong Quality na nabili nito mula sa Sun Fung sa Worldwide Plaza sa halagang HK$98 lamang. Nagsimula itong gumamit dahil sa mga marka ng pimples noon at ngayon ay naging makinis pumuti din ang kutis nito. Tiwala si Jane sa pinsan at kumbinsido sa sinabi nito kaya agad niyang tinanggap ang bigay nitong nasabing lotion.

Pag-uwi ng bahay, pagkatapos maligo ay ipinahid ang lotion sa buong katawan at mukha ayon sa nabasa niya sa instruction sheet. Makalipas ang ilang oras ay pinapakiramdaman niya kung may side effects ba ito dahil sensitive ang kaniyang balat. Nabasa niyang wala itong halong mercury kaya walang dahilan para mangamba siya.

Laking gulat na lang niya dahil hindi lang problema sa balat ang nasolusyonan ng lotion bagkus nabawasan din ang exess na taba sa puson niya. Ang mga peklat, pagiging sensitibo ng kanyang balat ay nawala.  Nabawasan ng 2 inches na taba sa mga hita sa loob ng ilang linggo na pagpapahid niya. Laking pasasalamat niya sa pinsan at sa Dream Love 1000.

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Para sa gandang nakaka-akit

Ang iyong Kagandahan ay magiging tunay na kaakit-akit. Mabibili sa Hong Kong ang updated version na

Dream Love 1000 5-in-1 Body Essence Lotion

na gawa sa laboratoryo ng La Cite Parfumer S.A. Paris mula sa mga piniling sangkap galing pa sa England, Germany, Canada at France.

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Tingnan ang libu-libong mga totoong karanasan sa buhay ng mga kababayan, at kung paano nila ginamit ang
Dream Love 1000 5-in-1 Body Lotion
para maging natural na kaputian, hugis, mas batang tingnan at kumikinang na balat, sa ngayon ay lalo nang seksi sa http://www.sunwebhk.com

Filipina jailed 9 months for stealing $114k from handicapped employer

By The SUN

Belle and Yeye relaxing at home a few years back

For nearly eight years, 41-year-old Filipina domestic worker Richiebelle A. Aballe and her 91-year-old male employer she called “Yeye” (grandfather) were inseparable.

But all this changed in December last year when Aballe, apparently stricken with guilt, went to the police to admit that she had been stealing from her elderly ward who has mobility and other health issues. She was immediately arrested and held without bail.

On Thursday, Aballe was sentenced to nine month’s imprisonment for stealing a total of  $114,110 in credit balances from the employer’s Visa card account over a 32-month period, as well as his Tudor wristwatch which she pawned for $700 on Dec. 15.

The Filipina’s longtime friends were shocked to hear about the case, as they spent most of their Sundays off for about three years previously, hanging out with Aballe at Yeye’s house in Lei Tung Estate in Ap Lei Chau.

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Her friends knew how Aballe had treated her employer like her own grandfather that she rarely left the house except when Yeye had to be taken to hospital for his regular check-up, or accompany him to visit  his three sons who live apart from him and have their own families.

In an interview with The SUN in 2019, Aballe even spoke of how her employer, whose real name is Chung Chi-kwong, would keep an eye on the closed-circuit TV monitor each time she left the house to do her daily marketing.

She also spoke with fondness about how Chung would often inquire about her teen-age daughter, and give both of them cash presents during Christmas.

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They were so close that Aballe would often just invite a few of her friends over on their days off so they could chat, eat and watch TV together with Chung.

Five years ago when Aballe and her friends were victimized by an illegal recruiter who offered them fake jobs in Canada, Chung was as anxious to pursue the culprit that he went along with the group to the Small Claims Tribunal to file a case.

They were a sight to behold – the diminutive Abella who stands all of 4 feet 10 inches tall, pushing the hefty Chung on a wheelchair – as they made their way to the Tribunal’s former offices in Wan Chai.

But somewhere along the way, her friends say Aballe started having serious financial problems,  ultimately causing her to get desperate.

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After she admitted to pawning the watch, police investigators began digging up and saw that she had had taken much more from the elderly man. 

At first, they determined that Aballe had tricked the elderly man into taking out a $99,000 overdraft on his Visa card account with Hang Seng Bank between October 2019 and October 2021.

But further investigation revealed that the theft had gone on for much longer, and the amount involved was bigger, so they amended the second charge. 

The second theft charge stated that between Jan 25, 2019 and Sept 1, 2021, she had stolen a total of $114,100 in credit balances from Chung’s Visa card with Hang Seng Bank. 

In court Thursday, Aballe pleaded guilty to the two counts of theft, for which Magistrate Jason Wan sentenced her to two separate but partially concurrent jail terms totaling nine months. PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

In mitigation, Aballe’s lawyer cited her clear record and the fact that she served her employer for seven years and seven months.

He said she had a teen-age daughter in the Philippines to support as a single parent.

But because her salary was not enough, she had been driven to borrow money from financing companies.

When she found herself unable to pay off her borrowings, she started stealing from her employer, which she now regrets.

He asked for understanding that she could not pay back what she had stolen.

As she awaited her sentence, Aballe was seen wiping tears with her fingers.

Magistrate Wan acknowledged that the defendant had a clear record, that she surrendered to the police, and was genuinely remorseful.

But he added: “This is a serious breach-of-trust case, where she stole money from her employer who is elderly and with disability.”

He noted that she cannot compensate for the more than $100,000 that she stole.

With a starting point of 12 months, reduced by a third as a discount, the judge sentenced her to eight months in prison for stealing $114,100 from her employer’s bank account.

For stealing her employer’s watch Aballe received a sentence of two months, which was discounted from the usual three months.

Wan ordered one month of the second sentence to run consecutive to the first eight months, making a total of nine months in jail.

Having spent almost five months in custody, Aballe would soon be out of prison, and back at home. But that would be little comfort, knowing she had hurt the one person she had spent so many happy years with in Hong Kong.

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