DH cleared of joining employer’s tennis business

The case was heard at Shatin Court

A domestic helper accused of breaching her condition of stay by joining a business offering tennis lessons, walked free from Shatin court today after the prosecution dropped the charge against her.

But three others who faced separate but similar cases to those filed against Aurorita Amba, 45 years old, were presented together before Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong. 

The prosecutor asked for an adjournment so that their cases could be amended to charge them as participating in a conspiracy.

Amba, as a domestic helper visa holder, is prohibited from doing any work other than working for her employers at their address.

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She was arrested for booking tennis court slots for her employer’s husband, a tennis instructor, between Oct. 1, 2023 and July 16, 2024 and was accused of joining the tennis coaching business.

For their part, the three others – Helen Habungan, Ammar Mendoza and Dolly Manaligod– were told to return to court on Nov. 14 for plea on amended charges.

Habungan, 43 years old, who was freed on bail of $1,000, was originally charged with two counts of lying to an Immigration officer by saying on two occasions – on July 12, 2022 and on March 18, 2023 – that she would reside in her employer’s address but did not do so.

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Mendoza, 62 years old, was charged with the joining a business providing tennis coaching services, as well as making a false statement to an Immigration officer by not staying in her employer’s residence, as specified in their work contract. She was freed on $1,000 bail.

Manaligod, 31 years old, who was out on $500 bail, was charged with breach of condition of stay for joining the a tennis coaching business while holding a DH visa.

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T1 to be raised in HK tomorrow with approach of Typhoon Yinxing

Marce made landfall in Cagayan today at 3:40pm (PAGASA photo)

The Hong Kong Observatory said earlier today that the Standby Signal No 1 will be hoisted between noon and 3pm tomorrow, Friday, as Tropical Cyclone Yinxing moves closer to the territory.

Yinxing, named Marce in the Philippines, made landfall near Santa Ana, Cagayan, at 3:40pm today.

As of the latest bulletin by the state weather bureau PAGASA, Marce is still in the vicinity of northern Cagayan, but is forecast to enter within 800 kilometers of Hong Kong around midnight tonight. 

The Observatory said that whether a higher typhoon signal would be raised would depend on the distance between Yinxing and the Pearl River Estuary, its change in intensity and the change in local wind conditions.

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Its approach has cast a pall on the annual cross-harbour swim fest scheduled for Sunday. Organizers said the race will be cancelled if a tropical cyclone warning signal is hoisted.

This means that even a Standby Signal No 1 would cause a cancellation, as well as red or black rainstorm warning, by 6am on Sunday. Other potential dampeners are a red tide warning, or any other condition that would deem the race unsuitable to take place.

Organisers called on all participants to keep an eye on the local weather forecast, and any official announcement that will be made on their official website should a decision to cancel the swim is made.

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More than 4,000 people have signed up for the event, which will see them swimming off Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Meanwhile, the latest report from the Philippine weather bureau PAGASA shows Marce is still in the vicinity of Cagayan, packing sustained winds of 175 kilometers near the center, with gusts of up to 240 kph.

It is moving west-northwest at only 10km/h and is expected to bring severe weather conditions to large parts of northern Luzon.

Signal No 4 remains hoisted over the northern part of Cagayan including the Babuyan islands, and the northern parts of Apayao and Ilocos Norte.

The rest of Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte is under Signal No 3, along with Batanes, as well as the northern part of Abra and Ilocos Norte.

Signal No 2 is up over the rest of northern and central Luzon, including Isabela, Kalinga and Benguet, while Signal No 1 is in effect in nearby regions.

PAGASA has warned residents in affected areas to take necessary precautions and evacuate if advised. 

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275 arrests made in alleged fake traffic accident cash claims

 

A Filipina who was knocked down by a KMB bus in Central in 2021 is a TAVA beneficiary

Scammers have apparently managed to dip their hands into a financial assistance fund set aside by the government for victims of traffic accidents in Hong Kong.

Police announced yesterday the arrest of 275 people who are suspected of having staged traffic accidents to collect money from the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance scheme administered by the Social Welfare Department.

Officers said the suspects had obtained about $14 million from the government through the SWD after getting involved in 121 traffic accidents from February last year to April this year.

Chief Inspector Tse Yu-ngai said most of the subjects belonged to different syndicates, and some even staged accidents involving public transport, after which a number of supposed victims had filed claims.

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In one accident involving a collision between a double-decker bus and a car, 11 of the 14 claimants were from the same syndicate, said Tse.

“They got on the double-decker bus at different stations. When the bus travelled to Tung Chung, the mastermind arranged a private car to collide with the bus, staging a traffic accident," Tse said.

He added some of the claimants were forced to take part in the staged accidents so they could pay off their debts to the syndicates.

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According to a statement issued by the government, the apparent scam was uncovered by SWD staff who noticed suspicious elements in the medical certificates submitted by some applicants.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the claimants had not sought any medical treatment from the private medical institutions or clinics which allegedly issued the medical certificates they submitted.

The suspects, aged between 18 and 64, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and fraud, which under the Theft Ordinance, is punishable with imprisonment of up to 14 years.

The TAVA scheme which was set up in May 1979, provides immediate financial aid to traffic accident victims or their families in case of serious physical injury, or death, in Hong Kong, whatever their visa status. 

A number of foreign domestic workers, and at least one Filipino tourist, were among those who have benefited from the scheme.

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District Court date set for accused in $1M theft from financing firm

 

Building in which theft occurred (Google Maps photo) 

A Filipina who has been in detention for six months on a charge of stealing more than $1 million from a lending company in Central, will be taken to the District Court when she attends the next hearing of her case.

Principal Magistrate Don So today adjourned the Eastern Court case of Mary Ann Destajo, 36 years old, and scheduled her plea for Nov. 26 at the District Court. He remanded her in jail custody.

This came after the prosecution filed an amended complaint that increased the amount she is acused of stealing from her former employer, Pacific Ace Financing Ltd., from the previous $1,068,848  to $1,072,109.

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The period she was accused of stealing the amount at her employer’s office in Wing On House in Central, was also amended: from Dec. 2, 2020 to Aug. 26, 2023. This period is four months shorter than that covered by the original charge, from August 2020 to July 2023.

Destajo, whose occupation was originally listed as receptionist, was identified later as a cashier during the three years that she was alleged to have stolen the cash.

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She has remained in custody since the court rejected her lawyer's offer of a $10,000 cash bail on May 23, a day after the Central Police filed the theft case against her.

Magistrate Minnie Wat rejected the offer, citing the seriousness of the offense, the breach of trust involved and the strength of evidence against the defendant.

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MTR to offer free rides to seniors on Nov 17

 

MTR poster announcing the free rides

All passengers aged 65 or above, resident or not, may enjoy free rides on the MTR trains, light rail and bus on “Senior Citizens Day” on Nov. 17.

All they have to do is use either their JoyYou card, Elder Octopus or Personalized Octopus cards to enter the train station or board the bus, with no fare being deducted.

But the promotion does not apply to Airport Express, cross-boundary journeys on the East Rail Line, and high-speed rail. 

The same "Free Ride Day" will be extended to persons with disabilities  with one accompanying caretaker on November 10, which has been designated as International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

All relevant passengers must present a valid registration card, a personalized Octopus or  JoyYou card  showing their status as a person with disability, to enjoy the benefit.

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In a statement issued to announce the free rides, the MTR Corporation said “the elderly not only play a vital role in the community but their wealth of experience and wisdom also serve as valuable assets to society….”

Currently, all JoyYou card holders enjoy a discounted $2 ride on any public transportation, with a few exceptions like the Airbus or Airport Express trains. Those who use the Elder Octopus or Personalized Octopus get a 50% discount on fares.

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As part of the day-long celebration, local companies and shops will offer special concessions to anyone  holding a Senior Citizen Card. They include restaurants, bakeries, optical shops and other businesses catering to the elderly.

The list of participating businesses are here. The English version starts from page 104. https://www.swd.gov.hk/storage/asset/section/352/en/scco/ParticipatingCompanies.pdf

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Helpful Pinay gets sucked into money laundering, jailed 11 months

Police use this computer graphic to warn domestic workers against money laundering

Helping a friend in need has led to a Filipina being jailed for 11 months today after she was convicted of money laundering following a trial at West Kowloon Court.

Marivic Millare, 49, was described by her lawyer as a kind-hearted person who happened to allow IC, an unemployed friend at a boarding house she was staying in, to use her ATM card to be able to receive a remittance.

The Hang Seng Bank bank account ended up getting a total of $454,918.46 in deposits, all of which were immediately withdrawn, from June 12 to July 19, 2019.

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This resulted in her getting arrested by police in October 2020 and later charged with “dealing with property known or believed to be proceeds of indictable offense,” a violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Magistrate Tsang Hing-tung said Millare cannot be considered innocent in the case because only she can allow any transaction in her bank account, having control of its PIN.

He also noted that after recovering the ATM card from IC, Millare “had no reason to be indiferent” to the big amounts that entered her account, including some $14,000 that came from a love scam and about which a prosecution witness testified during the trial.

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That witness said she met a man online and, over time, was convinced by him to send various amounts through online transfers to various bank accounts, one of which was Millare’s. That online lover disappeared after she had sent “him” some $203,000.

Without the defendant, Magistrate Tsang said, the scammer would not have succeeded in getting money from his victim, and then disappear without a trace.

In sentencing Millare, he set a starting point of 12 months and gave a discount of one month for her good character, as testified to by her employer of 14 years who provided her cash bail, and the four years it took to resolve the case which put undue pressure on her.

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Manila set to deport Hongkonger & alleged Chinese accomplice

 

Beijing requested the deportation of Su and Hui over alleged $64.5M investment fraud 

A Hong Kong man and his Chinese female co-accused in an alleged investment scam are set to be deported from the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration announced yesterday (Monday).

In a news release, BI Commissioner identified the fugitives as Hong Kong national Hui Chi Lam, 55 and Chinese national Su Yan, 47.

The two are wanted by Chinese mainland authorities in connection with an alleged financial fraud in which 59 million yuan (HK64.5 million) was lost. Both are charged with selling financial products to investors without having the required qualifications and government permits since 2018.

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Warrants of arrest against both accused were issued by the public security bureau of Luxi county in Jianxi, China on March 17 this year, but they were not served as they fled to the Philippines on tourist visas.

At the request of Chinese authorities, Philippine immigration authorities managed to track down the two in their condominium unit in Tondo, Manila on October 31.

“They will be deported for being undesirable aliens and their names will be included in our blacklist, banning them from re-entering the Philippines,” Commissioner Viado said.

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Apart from being on China's wanted list, the two aliens are accused of "blatant violation" of Philippine immigration laws for overstaying their tourist visas.

They are currently detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

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Mission dancers take part in Wanchai culture fest

 

The Mission dancers spice up the show with their colorful costumes and energetic dancing

Volunteers at the Mission for Migrant Workers are not only adept at assisting their fellow workers  with queries about their rights and welfare under Hong Kong law, they can also dance!

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Last October 20, a group of Mission volunteers from the Philippine Kalinga Pattong Players performed a traditional dance at the Cultural Mela (or fair) held at Lee Tung Avenue in Wanchai and organized by Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service.

The Kalinga dance is usually performed during weddings among dwellers of the Philippines’ Cordillera region.

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The Kalingas are renowned for their pride in their ancestry, their intricate hand-woven textiles and colorful beaded jewelry, as well as their way of incorporating dance and traditional music as a form of thanksgiving and cultural preservation.

A number of people in the audience tried to keep in step with the dancers

Their widely-applauded number at the mela included an on-the-spot tutorial on simple traditional dance poses and the use of the gongs, and ended with them inviting the audience to join them in a community dance.

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DH jailed 4 months for 8 thefts

 

Estate where the stealing spree began (Google Maps photo) 

A Filipina was jailed for four months today after she pleaded guilty at Fan Ling Court to eight theft charges involving more than $6,000 in total.

Beverly Fernandez, 29, was actually meted a four-month jail sentence for each theft, but the sentences were made to run concurrently by Magistrate Kelly Shui, who noted the “serious breach of trust  done towards an old lady.”

Magistrate Shui did not issue a compensation order despite the prosecution demanding that Fernandez return the stolen total of $6,071.9 to her employer and her mother in law. 

Her lawyer said she was unable to produce the money. In fact. he said in mitigation, she was driven to steal because she was deep in debt.

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The  stealing spree began when Fernandez stole a wallet belonging to her employer’s mother-in-law, when she visited their flat in Yuk Po Court, Sheung Shui last Aug. 8. The wallet contained the owner’s JoyYou card issued by Octopus Card to the elderly, her Hong Kong ID card and $1,980 in cash.

On the same day, Fernandez also stole $3,500 in cash from her employer’s bedroom drawer.

She left the house that day and used the stolen JoyYou card to take an MTR ride at the Shatin station, paying the dicounted $1.40 fare, which the charge said, represented a debt owed by Octopus Cards Ltd. to its owner.

Her fourth theft case arose after she used the JoyYou card to make a $22.5 purchase at the Circle K store at Wai Wah Center in Shatin.

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She then took another MTR ride in Kowloon Tong, charging a $2 fare.

At the Festival Walk Mall in Kowloon Tong, she used the JoyYou card again to buy shoes from a Dr. Kong shop on the second floor, incurring a $508 expense.

Before she left the mall, she ate at Pepper Lunch also on the second floor, and paid for the $56 meal with the JoyYou card.

Finally, on the next day (Aug. 9), she took the MTR at the Lam Tin station and charged the $2 fare to the stolen JoyYou card.

Training on addiction detection, free eye check-up set

 

The Mission for Migrant Workers will hold an online training this coming Wednesday, Nov. 6, on how the various types of addictions can impact a person’s mental health, and how they can be avoided and overcome.

The training is part of the Mission's Mental Health Awareness and Stress Reduction Program. It will be conducted in Filipino via Zoom from 10pm to 11:30pm. 

Those who wish to participate can send their names and contact numbers via WhatsApp or Telegram to telephone number 92021740.

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The guest speaker is Inna Abrogena, project officer of Migrant Domestic Workers Recharge Hub of the Chinese University in Hong Kong and mental health advocate for migrant domestic workers and ethnic minorities.

She will discuss the different types of addition, how an addiction affects a person’s brain and behavior, how mental illness and addiction can often go hand in hand, and the treatment options for overcoming addiction.

Poster for the free eye check-up, blood pressure and glucose testing

Meanwhile, the Social Justice for Migrant Workers is conducting another session of free eye check-up as well as blood pressure and blood pressure check-up.

The session will be held on Nov 10, Sunday, 8am to 5pm at the Bayanihan Kennedy Town Centre.

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The free service is provided by Visaya Twenty-One Optical Clinic.

Those who wish to avail of the service may register by calling Merlie at 94584181.

“Remember, health is wealth,” said SJMW in its Facebook post announcing the free consultations.

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Filipinos to perform in HK's cultural feast, Asia+ Festival

 

The Asia+ Festival is on its second year

Performers from the Philippines will be part of this year's Asia+ Festival Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances, to be held on November 10 (Sunday), from 2pm to 6pm at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and Foyer, the organizer Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has announced.

The Filipinos will present ethnic dances, along with performers from Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Nepal, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye and Vietnam,

The program, to be held from 2 to 6pm, will also feature traditional musical instrument performances from Kazakhstan, Korea and Kuwait.

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Of particular note is a 20-plus-member Kuwaiti group who will for the first time fly in to perform a sword dance and Middle East instruments  Daf and Mirwas.

Members of the public can enjoy handicraft displays from Bangladesh, Pakistan and other places, and participate in a range of workshops such as traditional dance, headgear making, spoon painting, Christmas decoration drawing, paper umbrella painting, and fragrant sachet making.

Japanese sake and snacks from Türkiye and Vietnam will be available at the food stalls on-site.

The theme this year is "Celebration in Splendour".

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Through folk music, dance, costume display, handicrafts and special delicacies, the event enables visitors to learn about how people of different nations celebrate milestones and important moments in their lives.  

Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to join.

The performances are part of the second Asia+ Festival running from September to November, highlighting the arts and cultures of nearly 30 Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions. 

Apart from stage programs, Asia+ will also have thematic exhibitions, an outdoor carnival, film screenings, outreach activities and more, numbering over 100 in total. (Details at www.asiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en/).

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Asia+ Festival is presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organized by LCSD to develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange, in collaboration with consulates general and overseas cultural organizations in Hong Kong.

Additionally, an exhibition entitled "Sartorial Splendour - National Costume Exhibition" will be held from November 10 to 17 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Foyer.

The eight-day exhibition showcases beautiful costumes and accessories that Asian people wear during festive events and celebratory performances. These include wedding attire and ethnic costumes from multiple countries and regions: Kuwait's wedding attire and headdress; Laos' Sinh skirts; Bidayuh, Orang Ulu and Dayak attire from the aboriginals in Malaysia; wedding attire from Myanmar; T'boli ethnic costumes from the Philippines; and Ao Dai gowns from Vietnam. There will also be a trial session of traditional Chinese costumes for visitors.

Along with the live performances and exhibition, the Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances will also offer an online program recapturing the event highlights, to be broadcast on November 24 on the LCSD's Community Programmes Office (CPO) website (www.cpo.gov.hk/activity/en-aecp-2024-carnival/).

Twenty-three countries and regions will participate in the event, including Hong Kong, China; Macao, China; Bangladesh; Cambodia; Indonesia; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea; Kuwait; Laos; Malaysia; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; the Philippines; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Türkiye and Vietnam. For more details of the event, please visit the CPO website or call 2591 1340.

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Filipina’s sentencing put off after promise to help prosecute agent

 

A Filipina who paid $12,000 to an agent to find her a fake employer willing to sign her up as a domestic helper, has admitted her guilt at Shatin court, but her sentencing has been put off after she promised to help prosecute the agent.

Melinda David, 32 years old, was charged with making a false representation to an Immigration officer lawfully acting or in the execution of Part III of the Immigration Ordinance.”

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The complaint filed by Immigration Department said she committed the offense on Oct. 2, 2022.

She tearfully admitted that after she was granted a DH visa extension, she never met or worked for her supposed employer, Wu Cheuk-ti.

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David found herself in this arrangement after she was terminated by her previous employer and she found her way to an agent in May 2023 who offered her a fake work contract that could be used to process her visa, for a $12,000 fee.

In a hearing on Nov. 1, David admitted to the facts read to her, such as her getting her visa approved on Oct. 27, 2023.

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Her lawyer requested Magistrate Andrew Mok to withhold her sentence and asked for a four-week adjournment to give the Immigration Department time to assess her offer to help investigate the agent, which could affect the sentence.

Magistrate Mok acceded to the request, adjourning the case to Nov. 29.

He also freed David on $1,000 bail.

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