14 illegal workers get 15-20 months in jail

 

Immigration officers detain one of thoise arrested.

The Immigration Department (ImmD) today announced the jailing of 14 illegal workers as it reiterated its warning that it will prosecute those who take employment without proper documents and hose who employ them.

The 14 were arrested in two ImmD operations on Oct. 17 to 19 and convicted in separate hearings on Oct. 20 and 23 at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts.

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The first to be jailed was an Indonesian female, aged 56, who was arrested on October 17 while working as a dishwasher in a restaurant in Kwun Tong during a joint operation conducted by the ImmD and the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion".

She was was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts on Oct. 20 after she pleaded guilty to taking employment after having overstayed, breaching her condition of stay and overstaying in Hong Kong.

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The other 13 were among the 14 persons engaged in packaging work, who were arrested in a joint anti-illegal worker operation between ImmD and the Hong Kong Police Force on October 18 to 19 at the Tseung Kwan O industrial area and charged on Oct. 23.

Twelve of them were each sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to taking employment after having overstayed their visa, of possessing a forged Hong Kong identity card and overstaying in Hong Kong.

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One was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully, remaining without authority from Immigration, possessing a forged Hong Kong identity card and possessing a false instrument.

The remaining one in the group was hospitalized and his case was adjourned. 

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ImmD said it is investigating the employment of illegal workers and syndicate activities in providing forged Hong Kong identity cards, and more arrests may be made.

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Filipina linked to love scam jailed 8 months

 

A Filipina domestic helper was sent to jail for eight months after pleading guilty to money laundering of proceeds from a love scam, while her four co-defendants denied the charges, setting the stage for a four-day trial at the Eastern Court.

Magistrate Minnie Wat handed the sentence to Maila Samson, 50 years old, after setting aside her lawyer’s plea for a light sentence and giving her credit only for her guilty plea with a 1/3 discount on the usual punishment of 12 months in prison.

Samson was immediately ushered into the detention area to start her prison term.

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The hearing, held on Friday Oct. 20, continued with the co-defendants -- Wong Siu-uen, Marife Dionson, Geraldine Tolentino and Ires Calinawagan – pleading not guilty, and the prosecutors’ discussing their plan to rely mostly on video-recorded interviews the four gave to police.

But Magistrate Wat had to hand the case over to Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui to schedule the trial.

In a separate hearing, Magistrate Chui set the trial for Jan 23-26 next year.

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Samson was charged with dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable crime, which is punishable under the Organized Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Her Hang Seng Bank account was linkled to an online love scam in which a Hong Kong woman was swindled of several millions of Hong Kong dollars.

A total of HK$571,850 and US$4,501.61 – part of which was believed to have been proceeds of the love scam -- were deposited and withdrawn in her account between July 15, 2020 and Aug. 7, 2020. In HKD, the total amount was about $607,000.

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During police investigation, Samson claimed that she had earlier lost the ATM card for this account along with her wallet and passport, but admitted she did not report the loss to the bank or applied for a new card, which could have prevented the misuse of her account.

The four co-defendants face similar charges. Wong was freed on $2,000 bail while the other Filipinos posted bail of $1,000 each.

Wong, 53, together with another person with a name written in Chinese, had the biggest amount deposited and withdrawn in her Hang Seng Bank account, at a total of $776,460 between June 15, 2020 and Aug. 20, 2020.

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The HSBC account of Dionson, 43, saw the inflow and outflow of a total of $358,300 within two days --on July 8 and 9, 2020.

Tolentino, 38, together with a person named “Wai”, had her HSBC receive $566,438 in deposits that were withdrawn within five days, on July 15-20, 2020.

The HSBC account of Calinawagan, 49, was used as temporary depository for $714,406 on July 10 to 23, 2020.

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5 Filipinos arrested in unlicensed bar in Central alley

 

The arrests happened in a building on this street in Central

Five Filipinos are being held for questioning after a surprise raid by police at an upper-floor unit of a building on Li Yuen Street West, commonly known as one of Central’s “lanes” or “ale-ale”at around 9pm on Saturday, October 21.

A police report said that acting on a tip-off and intensive investigation, the Central Police Special Duties Team launched an operation against unlicensed bars in the area, and managed to break into a unit on an unnamed building in the street.

From  an unlicensed bar upstairs, the raiding team found 581 cans of beer, 7 bottles of whisky, 1 ledger, and about HK$1,400 in cash.

Five Filipinos found inside the premises, aged 30 to 39, were arrested and were still being investigated per the latest police report.

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Among them was the Filipina proprietor of the bar who was arrested on suspicion of “selling liquor without a license,” “possessing alcoholic beverages without a license for the purpose of selling,” and “violating conditions of stay.” Her visa status was not disclosed.

Four Filipino males who were in the bar at the time were also taken away for “consuming alcohol in a venue without a liquor license.”

A slew of bars, karaoke and beauty parlors operate inside the mostly rundown buildings in the alleys which are often targeted by police in search of illegal workers and illegally run establishments.

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Periodic raids are carried out by the police in the area as part of their regular anti-illegal work operations, but not all the arrests that they carried out resulted in the conviction of suspects. 

This was what happened in the recent case of three Filipinas who were cleared of charges of selling liquor without a license, and working illegally in a bar at Fai Man Building due to insufficient evidence.  

However, one of them was still detained for overstaying, while the two others who were on recognizance, were set free. 

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BenCab to grace Galleria Camaya’s back-to-back exhibits in Hong Kong

 

The all-Filipino artists exhibition will be open on Nov 15

After a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Galleria Camaya is set to hold two back-to-back exhibits of Philippine art at the Visual Arts Centre on Kennedy Road, Hong Kong from November 15 to 20 (Wednesday to Monday).

Both shows will open at 6pm on Nov 15 and will have as special guests Philippine National Artist Ben Cabrera or “BenCab”, Philippine Consul General Raly L. Tejada, ICM CEO David Sutherland and ICM Creative Director of Deanna Sutherland.

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They will be opened to the public for viewing from the next day, Sept. 16 until Sept. 20  

The first exhibit, titled “A Light on my Path is the first solo show in Hong Kong of Kenneth John Montegrande, now widely hailed as the “rock star of Philippine art,” due to the accolades he has been getting for his cloudscape, seascape, lighthouse and now, a moonscape series.

This will be the 19^th solo exhibit of Montegrande worldwide, and comes at a time when his works have attracted many international art collectors, including by the Tokyo Contemporary Museum, owned by the billionaire philanthropist Yusaku Maezawa.

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The second to be held simultaneously at the same venue is a group exhibit titled “Philippine Art, which will showcase the works of established as well as emerging new talents such as Abi Dionisio,  Addie Cukingnan, Ardien Aspan, Armando “Pirasso” de la Cruz, Bullet Dematera, Enrie Nicdao, Gerrico Blanco, Guada Ramos Funtilar, Jaime Gubaton, Jeff Dahlian, Jerrico Eniel, Jojo Ramirez, Jo Uygongco, Julmard Vicente, Keith Paras, Loida Uncianco Bernardo, Mary Rose Gisbert, Marius “Black” Funtilar, Noel Ceriola, Norlie Meimban, Rica Cena, Rosa Maria Manayon, Rene Resella, Stella Tansengco Schapero, Wence Zyl and many others.

Galleria Camaya is run by financial analyst, artist and philanthropist Gail Camaya Hills, who has been collecting Philippine art and helping outstanding Filipino artists gain international recognition by organizing exhibits in Hong Kong, New York and Vienna.

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The last exhibit she organized abroad was “Lakbay Sining sa Amerika,” held in April last year in New York in collaboration with Bono Albania, llc, and featured outstanding works by Bullet Dematera,  Marius Funtilar and Guada Ramos Funtilar.

Poster for Galleria Camaya's New York show last year

In 2019, she had two separate exhibitions in Hong Kong and New York.

The Hong Kong show held from Mar 26 to Apr 1 at the Conrad was part of the prestigious Asian Contemporary Art Show-Spring Edition, and highlighted the works of outstanding young artists as well as some rare, special edition prints of works by BenCab.

She later brought along some precious works by Filipino artists when she went to New York and held an exhibit in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General from July 1-12 at the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue.

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The exhibited collection included works by Jaime Gubaton, Bullet Dematera, Astrid Castillo Hernandez and Gail Hills herself.

Apart from helping Filipino artists shine on the international stage, Galleria Camaya has made it a mission to give back to the community. Part of the proceeds from its latest show will go to the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge and the International Care Ministry.

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Mas malaking alok na piyansa, tinanggihan

 

Bigong muli ang Pilipinong si Ronald Bondoc, ang akusado sa pananakit sa kanyang kinakasama at pananakot na uulitin niya ito, na makawalang pansamantala matapos tanggihan ang alok niyang piyansa kahit itinaas niya ito sa $11,000 mula sa $10,000.

Sinabi ni Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui sa bail review ni Bondoc, 42 taong gulang, sa Eastern Court noong Biyernes (Oct. 20), na walang malaking pagbabago sa katayuan ng kaso kaya hindi niya mapagbibigyan ang hiling nito.

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Idinagdag ni Magistrate Chui na nakita niya ang mga larawan ng namamagang mukha ng biktimang si Carla Gonzales, kaya isinasantabi niya ang pahayag ng abogado ni Bondoc na hindi mabigat ang kasong kinakaharap niya.

Pinansin din ni Chui na nangyari ang pananakit ilang buwan lamang pagkatapos pagsilbihan ni Bondoc ang sentensiyang ipinataw sa kanya noong April 3 ng Eastern Court.

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Ipinakulong siya ng 10 linggo dahil sa pagbabantang susunugin niya ang Konsulado ng Pilipinas, pananakit sa isang kawani nito, at pag-iistambay sa lobby nito na nagsanhi ng takot sa mga tao.

Nauna rito, sinabi ng abogado ni Bondoc na kailangan niyang makalaya upang makapagtrabaho dahil kailangan nyang padalhan ng pera ang dalawa niyang anak na nasa Pilipinas.

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Inilista rin nito ang mga kundisyong susundin niya habang nasa labas, gaya ng araw-araw na pagreport sa Wanchai Police, na hindi siya aalis ng Hong Kong habang hindi natatapos ang kaso at ipapaalam niya sa pulis kung lilipat siya ng bahay.

Nakaalis na rin ang biktima sa flat na tinitirhan nila, dagdag ng abogado.

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Pilipina, nabistong OS matapos mahuling nagtitinda ng pekeng produkto

Unang palapag ng WorldWide Plaza, kung saan nahuli ang Pilipinang tindera 

Isang Pilipinang nahuli sa isang raid ng Customs and Excise Department sa Worldwide Plaza sa Central noong Sept. 20 na nagtitinda ng mga pekeng branded na gamit, ang nahaharap sa mas malaking kaso matapos mabisto na nag-overstay na siya nang dalawa at kalahating taon.

Maliban sa pagtitinda at pagkakaroon ng pekeng branded goods na gaya ng tsinelas, sapatos, bag at damit si Sandralyn Bartolome, 34 taong gulang at dating domestc helper, ay sinampahan ng dagdag na kasong overstay at ilegal na pagtatrabaho nang humarap siya noong Biyernes (Oct. 20) sa Eastern Court.

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Dahil dito, hindi siya pinayagang magpiyansa at ikinulong hanggang sa susunod na pagdinig sa Dec. 15.

Ang kanyang co-defendant sa kaso -- ang may-ari ng tindahan at kapwa Pilipinang si Josefina Ygot, 39 taong gulang -- ay nakakalaya nang pansamantala dahil sa pyansang $10,000.

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Pumayag si Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui sa hiling ng taga-usig na ipagpaliban ang pagdinig sa Dec. 15 upang masuri ang mga produktong nasamsam ng mga operatiba ng Customs, at paghahanda ng mga dagdag na kaso laban kay Bartolome.

Pinayuhan din ni Magistrate Chui ang dalawa na sumangguni sa libreng abogado ng Duty Lawyer Service ng korte upang maging handa silang umamin o tumanggi sa mga akusasyon sa araw na iyon.

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Ang dalawa ay sinampahan ng dalawang kaso ng paglabag sa Trade Descriptions Ordinance nang mahuli silang nagtitinda ng isang pares ng tsinelas na may markang “Hermes” at nagtatago ng 1,206 na iba pang produkto na may pekeng marka upang itinda sa shop sa first floor ng Worldwide Plaza.

Ang mga markang nakatatak sa mga produkto ay Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Tory Burch, Chanel, YSL, Longchamp, Asics, Nike, Adidas, Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, Chloe, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, at Lacoste.

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Maliban dito, kinasuhan din si Bartolome ng pananatili sa Hong Kong ng walang pahintulot ng Immigration. Nahuli siya noong Sept. 20, kahit na ang taning upang umalis siya ay noon pang March 20, 2021, nang matapos ang kanyang kontrata.

At dahil nahuli siya habang nagtitinda, kinasuhan din siya ng ilegal na pagtatrabaho habang overstay.

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Ang dalawang gawaing ibinibintang sa kanya ay ipinagbabawal ng Immigration Ordinance.

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