1 Filipino, 4 Nepalis set to be sentenced for jewelry store robbery

by The SUN

 

More than $600k worth  of gold jewelry was taken during the 2020 robbery (TVB photo)

A Filipino bartender who admitted holding a knife as he announced a robbery in a jewelry shop in Yuen Long more than two years ago, is due to be sentenced at the High Court on Friday, along with one of his four co-accused.

Mark Jordan Abella, who is now 33, readily admitted taking part in the lightning robbery shortly after he was taken to the Yau Ma Tei police station after his arrest on Oct. 1, 2020.

He and his four accused, along with three other men who remain at large, had been charged with conspiring to rob the Tai Sun Jewellery & Gold Shop on the ground floor of Fu Ho Bldg, 3-7 Kau Yuk Road, Yuen Long at around 11am on Mar 3, 2020.

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Just over $600,000 worth of gold jewelry was taken during the robbery, and was not recovered.

Abella, along with Gurung Ashish, Ale Magar Krishpoo, Raj Ghale and Gurung Sanjan all appeared before High Court Judge Audrey Campbell-Moffat on Tuesday and reiterated their guilty plea, before their respective lawyers presented their mitigation.

Ashish and Krishpoo, who were aged 17 and 16 respectively when the robbery was committed and merely acted as lookouts, had their mitigation hearing held separately.

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They are scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow along with Ghale, who appeared in court on a wheelchair and whose lawyer said had suffered from physical and mental disability. He had just been released from a Drug Addiction Treatment Centre (DATC) when Sanjan recruited him for the heist.

Abella and Sanjan will be sentenced at the same time on Friday.

All five accused, including the underaged Krishpoo, had been in detention since their arrests between July and October 2020.

In his statement to the police, Abella also pointed to Sanjan as the one who had asked him to join the robbery one day before it was carried out.

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Abella, like the two other defendants, had a string of records for past minor offences, including shoplifting, theft of a bicycle, violating a probation order, and gambling.

His lawyer said the Filipino was born in Hong Kong, and lived with his mother, daughter and a girlfriend, who appeared in court to show support.

Abella, along with his mother and girlfriend had written three letters to the court to express remorse, including one where he apologized to the staff of the shop who may have been traumatized by the incident.

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While he was tasked with announcing the holdup and hold a knife to threaten staff, his lawyer said Abella did not take part in smashing the display cabinets and scooping out the jewelry as he got scared.

But the lawyer’s further attempt to mitigate Abella's role in the robbery conspiracy was stopped short by Judge Campbell-Moffat who said the defendant had one day to “cool off” but did not, and went on with taking part in the robbery.

The older defendants all pointed to a man who went by the name “Tyson” as the mastermind of the robbery. He managed to evade arrest, along with another accomplice called “Kale” and the driver of the getaway vehicle.

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Abella, Ghale, Sanjan, Tyson and Kale entered the shop wearing masks and caps. Abella announced the robbery while holding a knife and acting as a lookout. The other men were armed with hammers and proceeded to smash display cabinets and scoop out jewelry which they stuffed into a black bag.

After just one to two minutes, the men fled with seven gold rings and 71 gold bracelets worth a total of $605,091.

CCTV footage showed the five getting off a car with license plate JN9585 before they entered the shop. Around 5:55pm of the same day, a passer-by saw the abandoned car without a  number plate at Yau Pok Road, Tai Sang Wai, about 7 km away from the shop and made a report to the police.

Officers who checked the car found a knife, an ax, a hammer, three surgical masks, six plastic gloves, 16 labor gloves and some clothes inside the car. It was then confirmed that the get-away car was reported missing by its owner to the police on Feb 24, 2020. Its real number plate was VU8036. 

The CCTV also captured the Ashish and Khrispoo on the rooftop opposite the jewelry shop about an hour before, and shortly after, the robbery. They were then seen on CCTV entering the Yoho Mall in Yuen Long where Khrispoo bought a shirt. Police investigators managed to trace them by checking credit card transaction records. Next to be arrested was Ghale, whose fingerprints were lifted from inside a door of the getaway car. He initially denied taking part in the robbery when arrested on Jul 29, 2020 but later admitted his role in video-recorded interviews. Sanjan was arrested on Aug 1, 2020 and also admitted taking part in the robbery but said he did not receive any money. However, Abella said in his own confession that Sanjay had given him $10,000 as his share in the loot. Abella also said it was Sanjay who had invited him to meet up with the other men a day before the robbery. They all rode in a car which was driven to the targeted shop. After the robbery, Tyson reportedly told Abella not to tell anyone about what happened or his family would be harmed. PADALA NA! Call us! PRESS FOR DETAILS CALL US!

T8 now in force in Hong Kong

 

Nalgae, which devastated the Philippines earlier, is now headed towards Guangdong

The Storm Signal Number 8 has been raised across Hong Kong with the approach of Tropical Cyclone Nalgae.

The signal was upgraded from T3 at 1:40pm and is expected to remain in force before 6pm tonight.

About two hours earlier, the government warned people with long or difficult journeys or who needed to return to outlying islands, to start heading to their destinations, and said it was arranging for its own employees to get ready to go home.

Everyone is advised to stay away from the shores as the seas will be rough with swells.

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Classes in all levels were suspended by the Education Bureau just before 6am today.

The latest weather bulletin says Nalgae will edge closer to the west of the Pearl River Estuary tongiht and, skirting within around 150 km to the south of Hong Kong. 

Winds across the city will move from northerlies to easterlies later today, and areas that were previously sheltered may be affected.

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Under the combined effects of Nalgae and the northeast monsoon, it will be windy over the coast of Guangdong today and tomorrow. Seas will be rough with swells and there will be occasional squally showers.

But the showers will ease off gradually in the next couple of days as Nalgae starts to weaken and dissipate.

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Cloudy to overcast weather is expected in Hong Kong tonight and tomorrow, but the winds will gradually weaken.

Sunny intervals with a few showers can be expected in the next couple of days.

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2 Filipinos get bind over orders for possession of prohibited substances

 

Two Filipinos left the Eastern Magistracy with clean records

Two Filipinos had their criminal cases shelved Tuesday, in return for a promise not to reoffend for the next 12 months, or else they will be fined $2,000.

L,. Marmol, 58 year old, and A. Palencia, 24 years old, were each put under a bind-over order by Magistrate Jason Wan at the Eastern Magistracy.

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Marmol, who holds a domestic helper’s visa, was caught in possession of three Viagra (generic name: sildenafil) tablets last July 23 at the corner of Canal Road West and Wanchai Road in Wanchai.

Police charged him with possession of a Part 1 poison, in violation of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.

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For his part, Palencia, who holds a resident’s visa and works as a barber,  was charged with possession of a dangerous drug, in violation of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

He was caught by police last July 18 outside Hysan Place, on Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay.

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Found in his possession was a handrolled cigarette containing 11 grams of dried cannabis or marijuana leaves, and another handrolled cigarette containing 0.04 gram of dried marijuana leaves.

Under the bind over order, the cases will not leave a criminal record on the two men and their fine of $2,000 will not be colleccted from them if they keep their promise not to reoffend for one year.

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Hindi totoong wala nang libreng PCR test kapag hindi nagrehistro sa app

 Ni Daisy CL Mandap

 

Mas maiging magrehistro dito para sa libreng PCR test, pero hindi sapilitan

Isa ka ba sa mga nagmadaling magrehistro sa LeaveHomeSafe app kahapon dahil sa pinakalat na balitang papagbayarin ka na sakaling kailangan mong magpa PCR test sa mga darating na araw  kapag hindi mo ito ginawa bago mag Nov. 1?

Una, hindi naman masama na nirehistro mo ang mga personal mong detalye sa app dahil ang layon nito ay para mapabilis ang proseso para sa iyong PCR testing sakaling kailanganin mo ito.

Pero hindi totoong wala ng libreng PCR test kapag hindi mo ito ginawa.

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Katulad ng dati, ang mga inutusan o inoobligahan ng gobyerno na magpa PCR test (ayon sa compulsory testing notice), katulad ng mga nakatira sa mga building na nakitaan ng virus sa sewage, o mga bagong dating mula sa ibang bansa, ay libre pa rin ang testing kahit hindi nakapagrehistro sa LHS app.

Kabilang din sa patuloy na makakapagpa test ng libre ang mga edad 60 pataas, mga nasa tinawag na “high-risk” na trabaho katulad ng airport at elderly homes, at mga bibisita sa ospital.

Ayon sa kumalat na maling impormasyon kahapon sa social media, “A person must have a PCR testing registration code to receive free PCR test on or after 1 November. Otherwise, you will be charged HK$150 or HK$240 per test.”

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“To avoid incurring unnecessary cost, please complete the registration on or before 31 October (Mon) via your LeaveHomeSafe app.”

Sadya man o hindi ay agad na nagdulot ng pangamba ang mensahe sa maraming tao, lalo at madalas ipag-utos ng gobyerno ang pagpapa test ng ilang grupo sa Hong Kong, kabilang na ang mga bagong dating na kailangang magpa test ng apat na beses sa loob ng anim na araw pagkadating.

Pero ang totoo, ang ginawa lang ng gobyerno ay dinagdagan ang mga lugar kung saan maaaring pumunta ang mga gustong magpa test, kahit may bayad, kabilang na ang mga paalis ng Hong Kong at kakailanganin ito sa mga lugar na gusto nilang puntahan.

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Umpisa nitong nakaraang linggo ay may 85 nang community testing centre (CTC) at outdoor community testing stations (CTSs) sa buong Hong Kong. Bukas ito mula 8am o 10am, hanggang 8pm, araw-araw.

Maaring pumunta dito ang mga may permiso na magpa test ng libre, o yung gustong magbayad para sa kanilang PCR test. Ang bayad ay hindi lalampas ng $150 para sa mga handang maghintay ng hanggang 24 para sa resulta, o $240 sa mga gustong makuha ito sa loob ng 12 oras.

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Maaring bayaran ang test sa iba-ibang paraan, katulad ng Octopus, Alipay o credit card, para mabawasan ang paglalapit ng mga nagpapa test at tauhan ng mga CTCs o CTSs.

Mas maigi na meron kang ganitong QR code para mas mapadali ang pagpapa test mo

Simula sa Nov. 8, ang mga gustong magpa test ng libre ay hinihimok na kumuha ng appointment online, sa booking.communitytest.gov.hk o gamit ang QR code na makukuha nila kapag nagparehistro sila sa LHS app.

Ang mga pinapayagang hindi gumamit ng LHS app, katulad ng mga edad 65 pataas o 15 pababa ay maaari pa ring dumiretso sa mga testing centre ng walang booking o testing registration QR code.

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Sa iba pang detalye, basahin lang itong pahayag ng gobyerno tungkol dito: 

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202210/27/P2022102700777.htm?fbclid=IwAR2tqX63osKOm72YVYX63L42NuOjxFSlkWIpitypNK9Dccc86q8e-NEu0Rk

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2 Filipinas deny 10 charges of violating anti-Covid, Immigration laws

 

The 2 Filipinas were arrested inside a pub in Fai Man building in Central

The three-day trial of two Filipinas who are facing 10 charges following their arrest by police in a pub in Central in March last year, began today at Eastern Court with both pleading not guilty as each charge was read and translated to them.

One of them, Jenivib Balanggao, did not agree even to a list of facts that her lawyers and the prosecutors had agreed not to dispute. She changed her mind after a member of her defense team whispered to her, and she was asked again if she agreed with the facts.

Balanggao, 34 years old, and her co-accused, Mary May Soriano, 38 years old, were arrested in a two-day police operation on March 12 and 13, 2021 in a pub on the second floor of Fai Man Bulding, 9-13 Li Yuen Street West (otherwise known to Filipinos as Ale-ale) in Central.

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Balanggao, who was on recognizance (or resisting being sent back home) when arrested, and Soriano, a tourist, are both former domestic helpers. They are out on bail of $2,000 each.

Magistrate Edward Wong spent most of the morning listing and qualifying the witnesses and evidence to be presented by both prosecution and defense lawyers, before calling the first prosecution witness -- the policeman who arrested Balanggao.

He said he arrived at the building at 2pm of March 12 and spent the next four hours monitoring the entrance through a CCTV monitor on the roof of the building. 

He and another police officer then entered through the pub’s open door at about 6pm, and found a Filipino man and woman drinking beer on a table and a Chinese man on another table. On both tables were beer bottles, both empty and unopened.

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He said he entered another door that led to the kitchen and found three women who were eating; one of them was Balanggao.

He demanded that all the people found in the pub show their keys, and one of these, which he took from the handbag of Balanggao, was able to lock and unlock the front door.

Balanggao and Soriano are facing the following 10 charges:

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• Selling liquor without a license on March 12, 2021, in violation of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
• Possession of liquor for sale without a license on March 12, 2021, in violation of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
• Failing to comply with the direction of the Secretary of Food and Health, in violation of the Prevention of Control of Diseases (Business and Premises) Regulations. They were accused of carrying on a catering business when, on March 12, 2021, such establishments were ordered closed as part of anti-Covid-19 measures. 

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• Knowingly allowing a prohibited group gathering to take place on March 12, in a place they controlled or operated, in violation of the Prevention of Control of Diseases (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulations.
• Selling liquor without a license on March 13, 2021, in violation of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
• Possession of liquor for sale without a license on March 13, 2021, in violation of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
• Failing to comply with the direction of the Secretary of Food and Health, in violation of the Prevention of Control of Diseases (Business and Premises) Regulations. They were accused of carrying on a catering business when, on March 13, 2021, such establishments were ordered closed as part of anti-Covid-19 measures.

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• Knowingly allowing a prohibited group gathering to take place on March 13, in a place they controlled or operated, in violation of the Prevention of Control of Diseases (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulations.
• In the case of Balanggao, violating the Immigration Ordinance for taking employment or establishing a business between 12th and 13^th of March 2021, when she was prohibited to do so, being a person subject to a removal order.
• In the case of Soriano, breach of condition of stay for taking employment or establishing a business between 12th and 13^th of March 2021, when she was prohibited to do so, being a tourist.

Both women denied all the allegations, including their alleged illegal sale and possession of alcoholic drinks, and of having violated Regulation 599F, which restricts the operating hours of certain businesses; and 599C, which restricts group gatherings.

The trial continues tomorrow. 

 

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T8 may be raised tomorrow

 

The Observatory's graph shows Nalgae heading towards HK after sweeping across the Philippines

The Hong Kong Observatory said this afternoon that it will consider issuing the No 8 Typhoon Signal during the day tomorrow, as Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae moves closer to the territory.

However, it added the No 3 signal will remain in place until 6am tomorrow.

Nalgae, which was called Paeng in the Philippines, swept across much of the country on Friday and Saturday, killing at least 101 people, and causing massive flooding and power outage in many areas. About two million people were affected.

Paeng or Nalgae headed out towards the West Philippine Sea on Saturday afternoon after making several landfalls throughout the Philippines.

The latest forecast show Nalgae is on track to come closest to Hong Kong tomorrow, moving to within 150 kilometres to the southwest of the territory.

The Observatory said the No 8 signal may be issued depending on the local wind situation.

“Although Nalgae would weaken gradually, its degree of weakening remains uncertain,” said the Observatory.

As of 6:45pm today, Nalgae was estimated to be about 350 kilometers south-southeast of Hong Kong and is forecast to move northwest or north-northwest at about 10 kilometers per hour, edging closer to the coast of western Guangdong.

Under the combined effect of Nalgae and the northeast monsoon, local winds are generally strong, with occasional gales on high ground.

Winds are expected to strengthen gradually, so people are advised to stay alert and check the latest weather bulletins, and to stay from the shore, as seas will be rough with swells.

Storm Signal 3 up; winds expected to get stronger

 

Expected track of Storm Nalgae (Photo from HK Observatory)

Strong winds brought by Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae have reached Hong Kong, prompting the Hong Kong Observatory to raise the strong wind Signal No. 3, which will remain in force at least until noon tomorrow (Nov. 1).

“This means that winds with mean speeds of 41 to 62 kilometres per hour are expected,” the Observatory said.

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With the winds come the rains, which will intensify tomorrow and Wednesday, thinning off Thursday, and giving way to fine weather again on Sunday.

While the storm signal is up. “members of the public are advised to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports. Those engaging in outdoor work or activities should also take note of the changes in weather,” it  advised.

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At 6 p.m., Nalgae was estimated to be about 600 kilometers south-southeast of Hong Kong and is forecast to move north-northwest at about 10 kilometres per hour.

As the storm edged towards Southern China, the Observatory said it will closely monitor its movement and development, and assess the need of issuing a higher signal. “Please stay on the alert and pay attention to the latest information,” it added.

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It issued the following precautions whe when Storm Sgnal No. 3 is in force:

1. Make sure objects likely to be blown away are securely fastened or taken indoors. Check if all windows and doors can be securely locked.

2. Drains should be cleared of leaves and rubbish. People in low-lying areas should take precautions against flooding.

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3. Owing to storm surge, low-lying areas may have flooding or backflow of seawater. Please take precautions, and stay away from dangerous places.

4. Construction and property management practitioners should make sure that overhanging facilities and temporary structures outdoors are securely fastened or placed on the ground, and complete precautionary measures as soon as possible.

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5. Avoid staying in areas exposed to high winds. Drivers using highways and flyovers should be alert to violent gusts.

6. Small vessel owners should now complete all safety arrangements and return to nearby typhoon shelters.

7. Small vessels not yet in typhoon shelters should seek shelter without delay. Use heavy anchors and check that all deck fittings are firmly fastened.

8. Listen to radio, watch TV or browse the Hong Kong Observatory's website and mobile app for the latest information on the tropical cyclone.