4 Thai illegal workers jailed as Immigration raids net 12 others

 

Among the latest to be arrested were 7 suspected illegal workers

Four Thai nationals found working illegally as masseuse were sentenced to between two to 15 months’ imprisonment at Shatin court on Friday, Jun 1.

According to a government press release, the four women, aged 40 to 48, were arrested after a raid by immigration and police officers on a massage parlor in Cheung Sha Wan.

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Thee of the women were also found to have overstayed their visas, and were meted the maximum sentence of 15 months in jail. The fourth who admitted breaching her condition of stay by working illegally was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.

Under the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, overstayer or asylum seeker who takes up a job in violation of their visa terms could be jailed for up to three years and fined a maximum of $50,000.

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The sentences were announced as 12 persons were reported to have been arrested in four days of anti-illegal work operation by Immigration and police officers recently.

Those arrested in raids conducted from May 29 to June 1 were seven suspected illegal workers, four suspected employers and one man from the Mainland who breached his condition of stay.

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The arrests followed swoops on 100 target locations across Hong Kong, including 36 in Western District. These included massage parlors, residential buildings, restaurants, warehouses, a park, restaurants and retail shops.

The suspected illegal workers comprising two men and two women aged 26 to 48, were arrested in the initial raids. Among them was a woman who had a recognizance form. One man and two women, aged 34 to 58 were suspected of employing them.

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In the second series of raids in Western, two men, aged 32 and 60, were arrested on suspicion of doing illegal work. One held a recognizance form.

One man, aged 40, was arrested on suspicion of employing the illegal workers. Another man from the Mainland who worked as a fisherman deckhand, aged 32, was held for breaching his condition of stay.

A Mainland visitor was arrested for selling goods in Sheung Shui

In a separate operation, a mainland female visitor, aged 39, was arrested for breaching her condition of stay by engaging in parallel trading on Po Wan Road in Sheung Shui district. She was caught selling health and skincare products.

Employers of illegal workers face the severest penalty of up to 10 years in jail and a maximum fine of $500,000. An immediate custodial sentence is also prescribed for offenders.

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Those found guilty of illegal work could be jailed for up to three years and fined up to $50,000. Those who use fake documents on top of the illegal work face a maximum jail term of 10 years and fine of up to $100,000.

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MTR's 2.3% fare hike to take effect on Jun 25

 

Most MTR routes will go up by no more than 20 cents

More than 90 percent of all fares on the MTR will go up by a maximum of 40 cents starting on June 25. This was announced by the MTR Corp on Friday, June 2.

However, passengers using Octopus or QR code for local journeys (excluding Racecourse Station) may have to pay a lot more, or up to 80 cents.

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The fare increase which was announced way back in March, will be the first in four years. This came as a result of the adoption of a new formula linked to the company’s profits. 

According to MTR, about 75 percent of the fares will go up by 20 cents or less, and 4 percent will remain unchanged. The rest will be raised between 30 and 40 cents.

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At the same time, the company said it will hold a fifth “Thank You Day” on August 19, during which passengers will be able to enjoy a 50 percent fare discount for every trip with their Octopus on the MTR, Light Rail and MTR Bus; or when they travel with a QR code on the MTR heavy rail network.

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The discount applies to trips running to and from Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau stations as well.

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SWD offers help to people disturbed by stabbing video

 

A still picture shared on Facebook shows the assailant in the act of stabbing the older woman

The Social Welfare Department has advised people who have experienced distress after seeing a video on the stabbing of two women in Diamond Hill this afternoon (June 2) to see professional help and stop sharing the video.

A quick check of Facebook showed many of those who shared the video and still pictures from the gruesome murder are Filipinos.

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The SWD said those bothered by the graphic images from the incident may call its 24-hour hotline 2343 2255 for immediate telephone counselling, support and referral services. They can also call the Hong Kong Red Cross at 5164 5040.

The slashing incident which happened at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill at 5:14 today led to two women, aged 26 and 23, being killed.

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The assailant, identified as the 39-year-old husband of one of the victims, was arrested at the scene.

A video footage of the incident which was widely shared online showed the suspect following the two women as they walked in the mall, before unleashing a 12-inch knife, then ferociously stabbing the older woman.

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Reports later said the first victim was stabbed at least 34 times.

The younger woman tried to rescue her friend, and even tried to drag her bloody body away from the assailant, but the man then turned to her and slashed her in the neck after a brief chase.

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The first victim was declared dead at the scene while the younger woman was taken to a hospital where she was later certified dead.

The suspect, who was wearing a white vest and black shorts, was easily subdued by police officers who arrived at the scene.

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Initial investigations reportedly showed the killings was sparked by a marital dispute. (Police update: The assailant did not know either victim).

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Pilipina abswelto sa kasong pagnanakaw

 

Isang Pilipina ang napawalang-sala sa West Kowloon Court kahapon, May 31, matapos litisin sa kasong pagnanakaw ng mga alahas sa kanyang among taga-Tsuen Wan.

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Nabunutan ng tinik si Rovil Deaso, 42 taong gulang, nang basahin ni Magistrate Andrew Mok ang kanyang desisyon sa kaso kung saan inakusahan siyang nagnakaw ng dalawang gintong palawit sa kuwintas na nakasilid sa isang supot na pang-alahas.

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Nagkakahalaga umano ang mga alahas ng $4,000.

Hindi pinaniwalaan ni Magistrate Mok ang akusasyon ng amo ni Deaso na si Siu Yee Kwan, na taga Parc City, Tsuen Wan, na ninakaw niya ang alahas noong Oct. 30, 2022 sa kanyang bahay.

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Hindi sapat ang testimonya at ebidensyang inihain ng taga-usig upang patunayan na lumabag si Deaso sa Theft Ordinance, na nagtatakda ng parusang aabot sa hanggang sampung taon.

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3 Filipinas drop asylum bids, saying they just want to go home

 

All 3 cases were dismissed by the High Court after the applicants dropped their bids to stay in HK

Three Filipinas with pending applications for non-refoulement, or against being sent home, have separately indicated to the High Court that they wanted to drop their claims as they just wanted to go back home to the Philippines.

They manifested their intention in the wake of Immigration’s intensified campaign to cut short legal challenges made by non-refoulement or torture claimants and deport those who have already failed in their initial bids to stay, or committed crimes in the process.

The latest to express their desire to give up their claims were M.  Sotingco and her minor son, H., as well as another applicant, M.G. Bautista, whose separate bids to fight off repatriation were were formally dismissed by the High Court yesterday, May 31.

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A day earlier, R. A. Jemenez, failed in her bid to file out of time a judicial review of the decision by the Immigration Director and the Torture Claims Adjudication Board denying her application for non-refoulement. Part of the reason cited by the High Court was a letter she sent, saying she wanted to return to the Philippines.

In the case of the Sotingcos, their bid to challenge the decision of both the Director and the TCAB denying their application to remain in Hong Kong was made within the prescribed period on Mar 25, 2019.

But on Feb. 17 this year, the mother applied to withdraw the application for both herself and her son, saying it was already safe for them to return home, and they wanted to leave as soon as possible.

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In Bautista’s case, it took the court nearly four years since she relayed her decision to just return home after her file was misplaced.

Bautista sought leave on May 2, 2019 for a review of the TCAB’s decision rejecting her application against repatriation. By Sept. 2, 2019, she told the court she wanted to cancel her application for judicial review because she wanted to return home.

As her case had already been listed down for hearing, the court did not allow her to withdraw her application. However, her case file went missing and was found only recently. The court recently consulted her and after she affirmed her decision to go home, her application was formally rejected.

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The only case that was considered in full was that of Jemenez, a 55-year-old former domestic helper from Davao del Sur who was terminated on Aug 17, 2019 and instead of returning to the Philippines, overstayed her visa.

She was arrested by the police on Mar 22, 2020, but after her case was referred to Immigration for investigation, filed a non-refoulement claim, saying her former boyfriend would harm or kill her over a monetary dispute.

On Oct 21, 2020 the Director rejected her claim, saying there was not enough evidence to show that she faced a real threat from her boyfriend and that in any case, the Philippines was big enough for her to go and live far away from anyone who could harm her.

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On Mar 16, 2022 the TCAB affirmed the Director’s decision, saying there were inconsistencies and discrepancies in the applicant’s evidence. Besides, even if there was truly a threat on her life, state or police protection was available to her on her return to the Philippines.

She filed a late bid for a judicial review of the Director and TCAB’s decisions on Aug 18, 2022, or two months beyond the deadline.

In dismissing her claim, High Court Registrar Christine Chung said she found no error in law or procedural unfairness in the decisions which Jemenez had tried to challenge.

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Further citing the applicant’s written request to withdraw her application as her problem back home had been resolved, the court dismissed the leave application.

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22 buwang kulong para sa nagnakaw ng alahas sa amo

 

Dalawampu’t dalawang buwang pagkakakulong ang ipinataw na parusa ng Shatin Court ngayon sa isang Pilipina sa salang pagnanakaw ng mga alahas ng kanyang amo sa Ma On Shan.

Inamin ni Marivic Hitalia, 35 taong gulang na domestic helper, na ninakaw niya ang limang piraso ng alahas ng kanyang amo na nagkakahalaga ng $46,000 at nabawi sa pawn shop, pero itinangging ninakaw din niya ang 20 pang piraso ng alahas na nagkakahalaga ng $226,000.

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Ang krimen ay nangyari sa pagitan ng Aug. 1, 2022 hanggang Oct. 28, 2022 sa bahay ng amo ni Hitalia.

Itinuro siyang nagnakaw ng pitong gintong kuwintas, 14 na gintong pulseras, tatlong gintong singsing, at isang gintong hikaw, na pag-aaring lahat ng kanyang among babae.

Ayon kay Hitalia, malamang na naitapon ang iba pang mga alahas na isinilid niya sa isang pulang kahon dahil sa kaguluhan noong sila ay naglilipat-bahay, pero hindi ito pinaniwalaan ni Deputy Magistrate Chan Yip-hei.

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Sa halip ay binigyang halaga ni Magistrate Chan ang testimonya ng among si Siu Yee Kwan na inamin ng Pilipina sa kanya na ninakaw niya ang lahat ng nawalang alahas, na karamihan ay hindi na nabawi.

Sa kanyang desisyong binasa sa English at isinalin sa Tagalog, sinabi ni Chan na wala siyang nakitang dahilan para pagdudahan ang mga akusasyon sa Pilipina.

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“Nakita ko na ang nasasakdal ay hindi kapanipaniwala,” wika niya.

Sa paghingi ng mas magaang na parusa para kay Hitalia, sinabi ng abogado niya na napilitan siyang magnakaw upang maipalibing ang kanyang tiyahing namatay sa Pilipinas, at pagpapa-opera niya upang alisin ang tumor sa kanyang ovary.

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Sinabi rin ng abogado na nagsisisi si Hitalia, na hiwalay sa asawa at may apat na anak na ipinaalaga niya sa kanyang kapatid na may pamilya rin, at humihingi ng tawad sa kanyang dating amo.

Sa kanyang paghahatol, tumanggi si Chan na bigyan ng karaniwang 1/3 diskwento si Hitalia dahil sa ginawa niyang pag-amin sa pagnanakaw ng limang piraso ng alahas. Sa halip ay binawasan lang niya ng dalawang buwan ang 24 buwan na karaniwang ipinapataw sa mga ganitong nakawan. 

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Pero sinabi niya na posibleng mabawasan pa ang panahon ng Pilipina sa kulungan kung magpapakabait siya sa loob.

At dahil nakakulong na si Hitalia noon pang Nobyembre at ibinabawas din ang mga piyesta opisyal, itinatayang mahigit sa isang taon na lang ang natitira niyang pagsisilbihan.

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