5 Filipinas accused in $3.5M money laundering case defer plea

By The SUN

 

Some of the bank and Octopus cards seized during the crackdown on the alleged syndicate

Five Filipinas, four of them domestic workers and one a recognizance form holder, asked for more time to get legal advice when they appeared in the District Court today, Thursday, to face charges of conspiring to deal with cash proceeds from crimes totaling $3.5 million.

The five – Charity Alonzo Marquez, 39; Jinky Tupas Salmorin, 50 (the lone torture claimant); Gigi dela Cruz Guieb, 45; Roda Bulatao Ramos, 42; and Maribet Prado Caniete, 54; were all originally set to plead guilty before Judge Ko King Sau.

But the defense lawyer who said he was representing all five defendants, asked for the case to be adourned to Dec. 8 for further legal advice. He also said no application for bail was to be made for all the defendants.

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After the prosecution raised no objection, Judge Ko allowed the application and ordered all the defendants returned to prison until the next hearing.

Marquez and Salmorin, said to be part of a money laundering syndicate, are accused of conspiring with a certain Julia and other persons unknown to withdraw “money deposited to a set of accounts under their control, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe” that they were proceeds from a crime.

Both were among 29 people arrested during the police swoop on Jul 26 and 27, 2021, that also included two Nigerians described as the ringleaders in the alleged scam.

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No mention was made in the charge as to the amount of money the Marquez and Salmorin had withdrawn, but their alleged co-conspirators in this case are accused of dealing with a total of $3,550,700 that were deposited in their respective bank accounts.

Third defendant Guieb is accused of two counts of laundering a total of $1,177,600 in separate bank accounts she held at HSBC and Hang Seng Bank.

In the first charge, she is alleged to have conspired with a certain Jennifer Inoc Teofilo and other persons unknown to deal with a total sum of $319,200 which was deposited in her HSBC account between April 17 and July 26, 2021.

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In the second charge, she is accused of conspiring with unknown individuals in laundering a total sum of $858,400 which was deposited in her Hang Seng Bank account between Nov 28, 2020 and July 26, 2021.

Fourth defendant Bulatao faces one charge of conspiring with unknown persons to launder a total sum of $1,382,200 which was deposited in her Hang Seng Bank account, between Jan 6, 2021 and Jul 26, 2021.

Fifth defendant Caniete faces two counts of laundering a total sum of $990,900 through two bank accounts she held at HSBC and Hang Seng.

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In the first charge, she is alleged to have conspired with a certain Maria and other unknown persons in dealing with a total sum of $660,900 deposited in her Hang Seng Bank account between March 2, 2021 and July 27, 2021, knowing this to be proceeds from a crime.

In the second charge, she is accused of conspiring with the same individuals in laundering a total sum of $330,000 deposited in her account with HSBC, between Feb 1, 2021 and July 27, 2021.

The ill-gotten money that the defendants are alleged to have dealt with were said to be part of the $27 million lost in the first half of 2021 by people who fell prey to romance and telephone scams.

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Filipina in money laundering case says prosecution witness may be part of syndicate

By The SUN

A total of $1.3 million passed through the defendants' ATM accounts with HSBC

Two Filipina domestic helpers whose bank accounts were used to launder a total of more than $1.3 million more than two years ago are due to stand trial on Feb 10 next year after they rejected a charge each of "dealing with property known or believed to be proceeds of a crime."

One of the defendants, Marissa C. Mesa, 46, also denied an alternative charge of conspiring with an unnamed person to deal with a total sum of $1,075,781 which passed through her ATM account with HSBC between Apr 21 and May 25, 2020.

Her lawyer told Eastern Magistrate Ada Yim on Tuesday that Mesa intends to contest the “voluntariness and accuracy” of the translation of the video recorded interview (VRI) she had with the police following her arrest.

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Mesa’s lawyer said they intend to establish a lack of “mens rea” – or criminal intent – on the part of the Filipina defendant.

They also plan to challenge the testimony of the main prosecution witness, said to have been the victim of a love scam, who transferred the questioned amounts into Mesa’s account. The defense lawyer said the civilian witness is “likely part of the money laundering” scheme herself.

The other defendant, Hazel V. Gepulgani, 33, was accused of using her HSBC account to deal with a total sum of $281,400, between Jun 13 and Jun 18, 2020, “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe” that the money represented proceeds of a crime.

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Her lawyer said the defendant does not want to question records showing the transactions made in her account, but only wishes to challenge the accuracy of the interpretation of her VRI.

Following their submissions, Magistrate Yim set down the date for their trial and extended their bail on the same terms - $2,000 for Mesa and $1,600 for Gepulgani.

The charge laid against each of the two defendants, more popularly known as “money laundering,” is said to be contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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The two accused last appeared in court on Jul 22, along with three other Filipinas who all admitted a count each of dealing with property known to be proceeds of a crime, and were jailed for between two to eight months.

Two of the three, who have since been released after serving their sentences, were back in court Tuesday to listen to the pre-trial review of the cases against their co-accused.

The money that passed through the accounts of the five defendants, totalling nearly $2 million, was said to have been obtained in part from a local woman who fell prey to a love scam. 

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They each admitted passing on their ATM cards, along with the passwords, for between $1,000 to $3,000 to unknown people who used them to launder huge sums of money obtained from illicit means.

Read the previous story here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/2022/07/people-who-sell-their-atms-to-money.html.

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Murder na ang kaso laban sa Pinoy na nakapatay diumano sa ka-live in

 

Babalik sa Eastern Magistracy ang Pilipino sa susunod na pagdinig sa Nov. 28.

Pormal nang ginawang murder, mula sa pananakit na may intensyon, ang kasong isinampa sa Eastern Magistracy laban sa isang Pilipinong driver na nambugbog sa kanyang ka-live in na kalaunan ay namatay.

Ibinalik sa kulungan si Bernie Valencia, 42 taong gulang, kahapon (Oct. 18) matapos basahin sa kanya ng interpreter ang binagong kaso niya, upang doon hintayin ang susunod na pagdinig na itinakda ni Principal Magistrate Ada Yim sa Nov. 28.

Pero dahil ang pinakamabigat na parusa sa kaso ay habambuhay na pagkabilanggo ay ililipat pa rin sa pinakamataas na hukuman ang kaso.

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Sa asunto na binago noong Oct. 11, inakusahan si Valencia sa pagkamatay noong Jan. 2 ng kanyang ka live-in na si Ivy Quiabang, 37 taong gulang.

Ayon sa unang report ng pulis, binugbog niya si Quiabang sa tinitirhan nila sa 82 Nullah Lane sa Wanchai noong Dec. 22, 2021, pero kinabukasan pa itinawag sa emergency number 999 ang nangyari sa kanya.

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Nakita ng mga pulis na rumesponde na wala nang malay si Quiabang at may mga sugat sa mukha. Siya ay dinala sa Ruttonjee Hospital para sa paunang lunas, pero inilipat sa Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital para sa operasyon sa pagdurugo sa utak.

Doon na siya namatay.

Ayon sa record ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, si Quiabang ay isang single mother na may dalawang anak sa Isabela.

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12 people may gather in public from tomorrow

By The SUN

 

Theme park visitors may now eat in outdoor areas as before

From tomorrow, Thursday, the maximum number of people who may gather in public has been increased from the current four to 12.

A statement issued by the government late on Tuesday said the decision by the Executive Council to “suitably relax” the gathering restrictions was based on data showing that the coronavirus situation in Hong Kong has been stable since the peak in early September.

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“Although the number of new cases did not decline further but hovers around some 5 000 per day with a slight increase recently due to the emergence of new mutant strains of potentially higher transmissibility, the overall figures of hospitalised patients, severe cases and deaths remain at a stable level,” said the statement.

It said the public healthcare system could maintain most of its services while looking after Covid patients admitted for treatment.

Shortly after, the government reported a total of 5,124 neww infections, including 390 imported cases. Twelve more Covid patients have died. 

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Also part of the relaxation rules are the following:

1)      Resumption of live performances in catering premises, including bars and pubs, but performers must undergo PCR tests twice a week and rapid antigen tests before each performance or rehearsal. They must also wear masks as much as practicable and maintain a distance from the audience.

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2)      Allow eating and drinking in outdoor areas of theme parks.

3)      Bars may remain open from 5am to 1:59am the following day, with the maximum number of patrons per table increased to six from the current four. 

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All other rules relating to catering premises remain unchanged, including use of the LeaveHomeSafe app; and for people going to banquets, bars and clubs to present negative RAT result obtained within 24 hours or PCR test within 48 hours.

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Pilipina, kinasuhan ng $5.74 million na pagnanakaw

 

Didinggin ang kaso sa District Court ang kaso dahil sa laki ng halagang sangkot

Iniakyat ngayon ang kaso ng isang Pilipinang manager mula sa Eastern Magistracy matapos basahan siya ng sakdal na pagnanakaw ng $5.74 million mula sa pera sa bangko ng dalawang kumpanya.

Nakalayang pansamantala si Kristine Annette Avelino, 34 taong gulang, hanggang sa simula ng pagdinig ng kanyang kaso sa District Court sa Nov. 11, sa bisa ng pyansang $60,000 na itinakda ni Principal Magistrate Ada Yim.

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Sa unang sakdal, inakusahan si Avelino ng pagnanakaw ng $5.4 million mula sa mga deposito ng Cosman Health Group Ltd. sa Chong Hing Bank.

Ang pagnanakaw ay ginawa umano sa loob ng limang taon, mula noong May 2, 2012 hanggang April 24, 2017.

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Sa ikalawang sakdal, inakusahan si Avelino ng pagnanakaw ng $344,044 mula sa account ng isa pang kumpanya, ang Work Life Balance Limited, sa Dah Sing Bank, sa loob ng apat na buwan mula Nov. 10, 2017 hanggang Feb. 27, 2018.

Sa ilalim ng Section 9 ng Theft Ordinance, ang sinumang mapatunayang nagnakaw ay paparusahan ng hanggang 10 taon na pagkakakulong. 

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Pilipino kinasuhan ng paggawa ng kalaswaan sa bata

 

Humarap si Tiquia sa Eastern Court para harapin ang mga sakdal

Isang Pilipinong 50 taong gulang ang kinasuhan sa Eastern Court lahapon (Oct. 17) ng apat na beses na paggawa ng kalaswaan sa isang menor de edad na babae sa loob ng apat na taon.

Si Joel Tiquia, isang IT manager na nakatira sa Tung Chung, Lantau, ay inakusahang gumawa ng kalaswaan sa batang tinawag lang na “X” sa isang flat sa Carribean Coast sa Tung Chung.

Ayon sa reklamo ng pulis, ang unang insidente ay nangyari noong Abril 2017 noong ang bata ay pitong taong gulang pa lamang.

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Ang ikalawang kaso ay nangyari noong Mayo 2018 nang ang bata ay walong taong gulang.

Ang ikatlo ay nangyari noong May 10, 2020 noong ang bata ay 10 taong gulang.

Ang ikaapat ay noong Oct. 6, 2021 nang ang bata ay 11 taong gulang.

Ayon sa Crimes Ordinance ng Hong Kong, ang paggawa ng kahalayan ay isang krimen na may parusa na hanggang 10 taong pagkakakulong.

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Ayon din sa batas na ito, ang ganitong gawain ay itinuturing na krimen kapag ginawa sa mga batang hanggang 16 taon gulang, dahil wala silang legal na kakayahang pumayag.

Unang isinampa ng pulis ang kaso laban kay Tiquia sa Shatin Magistracy noong Oct. 14, pero inilipat ito sa Eastern Court nitong Lunes, at dininig ni Magistrate Jason Wan. 

Pansamantalang nakakalaya si Tiquia sa piyansang $50,000 at surety (o garantiya) na $50,000.

Itutuloy ang pagdinig ng kaso sa Jan. 3.

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Chinese couple, 3 Filipinas charged in connection with $10m usurious loans

By The SUN

 

Police displayed the 242 Philippine passports they seized from the illegal money lenders in 2017 

More than five years after they allegedly conspired to lend a total of $10 million to about 1,000 Filipino domestic workers at usurious interest rates, a local couple and three Filipina domestic workers who were tagged as their runners were finally charged in court.

Tai Ming-fung and Cheng Wai-king, both 55, were charged over the weekend with conspiring with Lorna M. Pingol, 47 and Alma M. Cuntapay, 57, as well as another Filipina known only as Jessie “and other persons unknown” to lend money at a rate of interest in excess of 60 percent per year.

This is said to be in violation of section 24 (1) of the Crimes Ordinance and punishable under sec. 24(4) of the Money Lenders Ordinance.

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Their alleged offences happened between May 1, 2016 and March 12, 2017 although it’s not clear why the charges were only brought to court last Friday, Oct. 14.

Earlier reports from the police said the group made as much as $12 million from the illegal transactions. The borrowers were allegedly charged an interest of 10% per month, or 120% per year, double the legal rate.

A similar charge was filed against Milagros-Anna M. Laderas, 46, and Jessie – the couple’s domestic worker who has apparently fled Hong Kong – and other persons unknown. Their offence was allegedly committed between an unknown date in July and September 2016.

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Officers of the Crime and Triad Bureau said at a press conference in April 2017 that they had arrested the couple they tagged as the masterminds, as well as their Filipina helper, allegedly their assistant, after passports used as collaterals had changed hands.

Seven other Filipina helpers who served as their contacts and runners were also reportedly arrested in follow-up raids.

The police said over a short period of eight months, the syndicate had lent out a total of $10 million loan in cash, and made at least $12 million in illegal interest payments.

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A total of 242 Philippine passports were recovered at the time, and a large number of bank records, debt notes, and employment contracts were seized.

The holders, all domestic helpers, had used them as collaterals for loans of $4,000 to $15,000 that carried a 10% monthly interest rate.

Officers recovered $106,000, several work contracts and 242 Philippine passports, cell phones, bank documents and some pieces of jewelry.

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Police said then that they would not be returning the passports to the Consulate as they would be used as evidence in court.

At Eastern Court today, Cuntapay asked Principal Magistrate Ada Yim for more time to comply with an order to surrender her passport. Cuntapay promised to have it ready by Friday, Oct. 21, and the magistrate agreed.

Cuntapay’s cash bail of $2,000 was extended until then.

No mention was made of the other defendants and when the next hearing of the cases against them will be held.

Under Hong Kong laws, anyone convicted of lending money at usurious rates shall be liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.

If the conviction is rendered on indictment, the maximum penalty should be a fine of up to $5 million and imprisonment for 10 years.

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2 Pilipinang OS na nahulihan ng droga, bigong mag-piyansa

Ang gusali sa Wanchai kung saan nahuli ang tatlong akusado

Dalawang Pilipinang overstayer ang hindi pinayagang magpiyansa sa Eastern Courts ngayon (Oct. 17) samantalang ang kasama nilang British sa kasong may kinalaman sa droga ay pinayagang umalis sa Hong Kong kapalit ang pagtaas ng kanyang piyansa sa $50,000 mula $5,000.

Tinanggihan ang alok na $5,000 bilang piyansa upang makalayang pansamantala sina Maria Elda Cabello at si Teodora Quijano, na parehong 33 taong gulang, at nahaharap sa sakdal na drug trafficking o pangangalakal ng droga. 

Ibinalik silang pareho sa kulungan upang doon hintayin ang susunod na pagdinig ng kaso sa Dec. 12.

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Ang Briton na si Sam Valentine Burcher, 23 taong gulang, ay kinasuhan ng drug possession o pagkakaroon ng droga, dahil sa apat na gramo ng marijuana na nakita sa kanya. Siya ay pinayagang umalis sa Oct. 18 upang ituloy ang kanyang pag-aaral sa UK.

Ayon sa dokumento ng korte, si Burcher ay nakitaan ng droga sa hagdan ng third floor ng Hong Kong Building sa Lockhart Road, Wanchai, noong Sept. 2, kung saan si Cabello naman ang nagtitinda ng droga.

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Nang dalhin si Cabello sa tinutuluyan niya sa Room 9 ng Ming Court Hotel na nasa 2^nd floor ng nasabing gusali ay nakita si Quijano at iba pang droga na hindi binanggit sa sakdal ang dami.

Muling kinasuhan si Cabello ng drug trafficking, at pati na rin si Quijano.

Sa isinagawang imbestigasyon, nadiskubre ding wala nang visa sa Hong Kong ang dalawa. Si Cabello ay napaso ang visa noong Aug 11 ng taong kasalukuyan at si Quijano naman ay noong July 18.

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Dahil dito ay parehong sinampahan ang dalawang Pilipina ng kasong "breach of condition of stay- overstay."

Sinabi ni Principal Magistrate Ada Yim na tinanggihan niya ang alok nilang piyansa dahil mabigat ang kasong hinaharap nila at matibay ang ebidensiya laban sa kanila. Wala ding kasiguraduhan na babalik sila sa korte sa susunod na pagdinig dahil wala silang permanenteng tirahan dito.

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Pero may karapatan naman daw silang iakyat ang hiling nilang piyansa sa Court of First Instance.

Samantala ang $50,000 na piyansa naman ni Burcher ay ibababa ulit sa $5,000 kapag bumalik siya sa Dec. 11 para sa susunod na pagdinig.

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