NAIA security staff told not to touch passports

 

 Security staff at all NAIA terminals should not touch the passports of entering passengers

In what appears to be a determined effort to stamp out the “punit-passport” complaints involving Filipinos travelling out of the Philippines, the Department of Transportation has ordered security personnel to keep their hands off the travel documents of passengers entering any of the terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

Earlier, the DOTr also warned airline companies in a weekend meeting against tampering with the passports of their passengers, after a rash of complaints posted on social media by travelers who said they had been prevented from leaving due to tears in their passports which had not been there before they were presented for check-in.

The one that was shared the most was posted by Diana Natividad, who said her 78-year-old father was stopped from boarding by Cebu Pacific check-in staff who noticed a slight tear in the binding of his passport.

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Even though they were later cleared to fly by another check-in counter and immigration officers, they were still stopped at the boarding gates by other Cebu Pacific personnel.

In an advisory posted on Tuesday, the New Naia Infra Corp (NNIC) told all security personnel at the Manila international airport not to touch the passports of entering passengers when during the verification process.

 “Passengers will simply be asked to show their valid ID or travel document by holding it up themselves,” the advisory added.

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In most aiports abroad, however, including Hong Kong, anybody can enter aiports freely, and passengers are required to present their passports only when checking in for a flight, eliminating such an unnecessary verification process.

In his meeting with airline representatives earlier, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon warned that any attempt by their personnel to deliberately tear or mutilate passports of passengers to prevent them from flying will not be tolerated.

Dizon said that during the ongoing investigation by the DOTr and the Civil Aeronautics Board, CCTV footages will be inspected, along with actual personal accounts by passengers who claimed to have been victimized.

“If we see reports of these incidents and prove that there are airline personnel behind this scheme, then I am sorry. Sanctions will be imposed on both the airlines and their personnel,”  Dizon stressed.

In Natividad’s case, Cebu Pacific had earlier claimed its check-in staff had checked with airport authorities in Bali, Indonesia, and they were told that the elderly passenger would be prevented from entering even if he was cleared to fly in Manila.

Dizon said part of their investigation will include a check with Bali authorities on the matter.

The DOTr, meanwhile, reminded passengers bound for international flights to always check the validity and condition of their passports before traveling and to consult with passport centers or airport authorities when in doubt.

However, published advisories from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clearly state that a passport is considered damage only when its physical condition is altered due to wear and tear, aging, negligence, or other factors that leave it mutilated or defective.

A passport is deemed mutilated only if its data page becomes unreadable or if any information is missing.

Clearly, a simple tear in the passport that does not make the passenger information unreadable should not stop anyone from leaving the country.

Filipina detained over $3.66M that went through her bank accounts

 

File photo from HK Monetary Authority

A Filipina facing three money laundering charges after some $3.66 million in crime money allegedly passed through three bank accounts under her name, has been remanded in jail after appearing at Fanling Court Wednesday (April 30).

Vermadel Canonero, 47 years old, faces three cases of “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence,” in violation sections 2(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Magistrate Kenneth Chan adjourned the case to June 25.

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The first charge arose from deposits and withdrawals that totalled $345,000 in her Bank of China account between June 7 and July 4 last year.

The second charge was based on incoming and outgoing transactions that totalled $261,627.61 in her China CITIC Bank account between March 28 and Nov. 13 last year.

The biggest amount in the case, which totalled $3,053,671.25, went through her MOX Bank account from March 12 to July 13 last year.

Basahin ang detalye!

In a separate case in the same court, Ma. Gretel Mago, 48, pleaded not guilty to a similar charge so Magistrate Chan scheduled a trial for June 2.

Mago is accused of money laundering, based on a total of $1,1,25,601.96 in crime money that allegedly passed through her Hang Seng Bank account between July 2 and July 27 last year.

Money laundering in Hong Kong carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail and $5 million in fines  

CHP warns against using mercury-laden cosmetic cream

 

I How the product looks like (CHP photo)

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has appealed to the public not to use a cosmetic cream called " Yifumei Supple And White Night Cream", as it contains excessive mercury, which is harmful to health.

The CHP had earlier received a notification of a mercury poisoning case from the Hospital Authority involving a 44-year-old female patient found to have proteinuria (presence of excessive proteins in urine) after admission to the hospital. Her urine and blood samples were found to contain mercury above the respective reference levels. The patient was discharged after treatment.

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Investigations revealed that the patient had been using a product labelled as "Yifumei Supple And White Night Cream" since 2022.

Testing by the Hospital Authority revealed that a sample of "Yifumei Supple And White Night Cream" contained excessive mercury. The clinical diagnosis of the patient is suspected to be related to the use of the product, and the case has been referred to the relevant law enforcement agency for follow-up.

Prolonged exposure to mercury can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys, CHP said. Symptoms may include tremors, irritability, insomnia, memory deterioration, concentration difficulty, impaired hearing and vision, and change in taste. In severe cases, kidney failure may occur.

The CHP strongly urged people who are using this product to stop using it immediately. They should consult healthcare professionals as soon as possible if they feel unwell or are in doubt.

Philippine church used for illegal recruitment shut down

NBI agents shut down the Faithful Promise church on orders from DMW

The Department of Migrant Workers ordered the closure of a church in Rizal province on Apr 28, after verifying that it was being used for the illegal recruitment of workers for jobs in Japan, Korea, and Papua New Guinea.

Operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation led the entrapment operation at the church of the Faithful Promise Foundation Philippines at Santo Niño Compound, Sitio Paenaan, Baras, Rizal.

The church is also known as Faithful Promise of Jesus Christ the Greatest Master Phil., Inc and Faithful Promise Church in the Philippines.

Basahin ang detalye!

DMW Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia said Pastora Esclarmonde Estrada Basalio was arrested during the entrapment which followed a series of surveillance operations.

The recruiter who was not a licensed agent, allegedly charged victims, mostly her own parishioners, Php50,000 each for visa processing and other fees.

Pastora Basalio preyed on her own parishioners, according to DMW and NBI

The recruiter promised overseas jobs such as factory workers, tea pickers, clerks, accountants, mechanical engineers and construction workers, with salaries ranging from Php36,000 to Php120,000.

The victims were issued tourist visas under the guise of missionary work, and were instructed to tell Immigration they were missionaries.

But the ploy didn’t always work as some of the jobseekers were offloaded, while those who managed to reach their destinations were disheartened to find out that no jobs awaited them. The rest were still awaiting deployment.

Neither the DMW or the NBI could immediately give the number of people who had been duped in the illegal operation.

Olalia said, “Ang una po nilang nabiktima ay mga kapuwa nila parishioners, yong mga miyembro mismo ang nagsumbong, at siyempre vinalidate natin. Meron mga na-offload, dahil may mga nagrereklamo at kasalukuyan din sinisingil kahit walang authority, based on the confirmation from the complainants.

(The first victims were their co-parishioners, their own members had complained against them, and of course we validated these. Some were offloaded so they complained, while others were are being charged fees even if they don’t have a license).

He added, “Kung aalis sila na hindi dokumentado, hindi tamang dokumentasyon, buhay ang kapalit po non kapag nagkamali. Yon po ang ating isinaalang-alang—pamilya at buhay ng OFW.”

(If they leave without documentation or their documents are not in order, their lives could be in danger. That’s what we’re after, to protect their families and the OFWs’ lives)

Cavite NBI Chief Eric Duque said they received information that very minute that there were victims who managed to get to their intended destination, only to find out that there were no jobs waiting for them there.

Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara added that most of the victims were bound for Japan for construction work or low-level jobs.

The closure operation was carried out by the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) in coordination with the NBI.

Those who have been victimized by the religious group are encouraged to report their cases to the MWPB through the official hotline +63 2 8721-0619, email mwpb@dmw.gov.ph, or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip) for assistance in filing complaints.

Consulate to close on May 1-3 & 5

 

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong has announced that it will close on May 1, Labor Day and May 5, Buddha’s Birthday, both statutory holidays in the city, which are also when migrant domestic workers are given a day off.

Since May 1 falls on a Thursday and the Consulate is officially closed on Fridays and Saturdays, it will resume services on Sunday, May 4, but will close again on Monday, May 5.

This means that all consular offices of the Consulate as well as its attached agencies like the Migrant Workers Office, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Social Security Sytem and Pag-IBIg, will be closed on these days.

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However, the ongoing overseas voting will continue every day, including public holidays, 9am to 4pm, until the Philippine national election closes at 7pm on May 12, at the OFW Global Centre on the 18^th floor of United Center building in Admiralty.

According to the Consulate, the Department of Foreign Affairs as given them authority to close on selected Philippine and Hong Kong holidays.

The last time it had an extended holiday was last Apr 17, also called Maundy Thursday and is a Philippine holiday, until Apr 19, Easter Sunday. The Consulate opened the next day, however, even if it was Easter Monday, a Hong Kong holiday.

Those who have urgent concerns may call the following hotlines: assistance to nationals section of the Consulate, 9155 4023; OWWA, 5529 1880 and the MWO, 6345 9324.

 

Fares on the Airport Express set to increase

 

Airport Express train (Cathay Pacific photo)

The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) is expected to increase fares on the Airport Express (direct train service to the Hong Kong International Airport) within this year.

From the current $110 for a single journey from Central to HK airport, the fare will rise to no more than $120 under the proposed increase, the first in eight years.

This emerged after members of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) shared favorable views on the fare adjustment during a briefing conducted by representatives of the MTR Corporation Ltd. (MTRCL).

According to the Operating Agreement between the Government and the MTRCL, the company’s Board of Directors will set the new fares after consulting the TAC and the the Legislative Council (Transport Panel).

The fare increase will come at about the same time that the airport departure tax from Hong Kong will rise from the current $120 to $200 starting Oct. 1, 2025. The new rate will be added to all air tickets purchased on or after this date, and is expected to boost Hong Kong's revenue by $1.6 billion.

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It needs to announce the new fares no later than three weeks prior to its implementation.

"(TAC) Members noted that it has been eight years since the last fare adjustment of the Airport Express, and the fare adjustment rate proposed by the MTRCL is lower than the cumulative inflation rate for the same period,” TAC Chairman Professor Stephen Cheung said.

“Members noted that the proposed fare adjustment can facilitate the Airport Express in facing the constantly rising operating costs and the investment needs for railway asset renewal,” he added.

"Members also noted that after the new fares take effect, the MTRCL will continue its investments in upgrading Airport Express facilities and services, as well as the provision of multiple fare promotions, to provide passengers with a comprehensive airport railway service," he said.

CHP raises alarm after latest Mpox case

 

Rashes are a common symptom (CHP photo)

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has urged people to be vigilant against Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) after reporting the latest case of the disease.

It has set up an Mpox telephone hotline (2125 2373), which operates from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding public holiday to receive calls from those who suspect or are concerned that they may have had high-risk contact with confirmed cases, particularly men who have sex with men or with strangers.

“Persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches) or suspect themselves of being infected are advised to seek medical attention and receive treatment at once,” it said.

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HP reported that the latest Mpox case involves a 33-year-old male with good past health who developed rashes and lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) on April 22, and attended the Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene Clinic of the DH on April 25. “He is in stable condition, and is being arranged for treatment and isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital,” it added.

A preliminary investigation revealed that he did not receive Mpox vaccination and had a history of high-risk exposure in Hong Kong.

“No epidemiological linkages have been established between this case and other confirmed cases previously recorded in Hong Kong. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations of the case and will report the case to the World Health Organization,” CHP said.

CHP reminded high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccinations to lower the risk of infection or the possibility of having more severe symptoms.

“Members of the public should maintain good personal and hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of being infected,” CHP said.

The following high-risk target groups are eligible for Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:

• Individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
• Healthcare workers responsible for caring for patients with confirmed Mpox;
• Laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
• Animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.

The high-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at any of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS) and the DH's Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre.

Meantime, the DH's Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital also provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.

For more details, please visit the CHP's page on Mpox (https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/105683.html) and Mpox Vaccination Programme (https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106090.html).

2 Pinays charged with trying to export meds without license

 

Two Filipinas facing criminal charges filed by Customs and Excise Department for allegedly trying to export big quantities of medicines from Hong Kong without license, will have to wait in jail longer after their case was adjourned today at the Kowloon City Court.

Donna Flores, 46 years old, is facing three charges involving the export of medicines, while Rahima Singgon, 38 yeas old, is jointly charged with Flores in two of the cases, plus breach of condition of stay by overstaying.

Magistrate Philip Chan scheduled their next hearing for July 21.

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Flores, a tourist, is charged with attempting to export prohibited articles, namely 10,000 tablets of pharmaceutical products, from the Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office on Middle Road, TST East on June 15 last year.

She is also accused with Singgon of attempting to export, without licence, another 400,000 tablets of pharmaceutical products from a fourth floor room in Chiu Tat Factoy Bldg in San Po Kong on the same day.

The third charge against the two, possession of Part 1 poison, arose from 400,000 tablets containing poison, which were seized from them at the factoy building on the same day.

During the investigation, Singgon was later found to have overstayed for two years. She had been a domestic helper who was given until June 4, 2022 to leave Hong Kong, having been teminated two weeks earlier.

 

11 people dead after car plows through crowd at Filipino festival in Vancouver

 

The aftermath of the tragedy on Vancouver's Fraser St

At least 11 people are now known to have been killed and dozens others injured when a man with a history of mental health issues rammed a sports utility vehicle (SUV) through a crowd celebrating a Filipino community festival in the western Canadian city of Vancouver.

Vancouver Police who arrested a 30-year-old male suspect at the scene of the incident on Saturday evening said the suspect had a “significant history” of consulting authorities on mental health.

They said they “were confident” it was not a terrorist act, and that the suspect had acted alone, and deliberately.

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Reports said the incident happened shortly after 8pm in Vancouver’s Sunset on Fraser neighborhood as members of the Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day.

The celebration falls this year on the weekend before Canada’s election

Various witnesses recalled hearing a lot of banging sound as the black SUV roared down the street at full speed.

The SUV was left mangled by the carnage (Facebook photo)

In the aftermath, a number of people were seen strewn across the road, being tended by bystanders and first responders.

Victims were rushed to several local hospitals, with the full casualty toll still unknown. 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney immediately offered his “deepest condolences” to families of the victims, to Filipinos in Canada and to everyone in Vancouver.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. also extended sympathy, and said he was “shattered” by news of the incident.

Marcos said the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver is already working with Canadian authorities to ensure that a full investigation is carried out, and that the victims and their families are given support and consolation.

 

Phil transport officials look into ‘punit passport’ incidents’

 

An elderly Pinoy was denied boarding because of the hardly discernible tear in his passport

The Department of Transportation in the Philippines has ordered an investigation into a rash of complaints from Filipino travellers being denied boarding for overseas travel because of small tears in their passports.

In the latest such incident, a 71-year-old man was not allowed by Cebu Pacific Airways to board his flight to Bali, Indonesia, where he was supposed to spend the Easter holiday with his family, because of a slight tear in the binding of his passport.

The incident which happened on Apr 15 at terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was recounted on Facebook by the passenger’s daughter Diana Natividad.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

But there were similar complaints earlier from overseas Filipino workers who hinted their passports might have been deliberately tampered with by airline or airport personnel to prevent them from boarding their flights. The intention behind this was, however, unclear.

Natividad said that in her father’s case, it was “power tripping” by a check-in staff of Cebu Pacific, who reportedly said a photo of the torn passport had been forwarded to Bali airport authorities, and they were the ones who said the passenger would not be allowed entry.

Acting on the complaints Transport Secretary Vince Dizon said at a press conference on Saturday, Apr 26, that the DOTr and the Civil Aeronautics Board were already conducting an investigation.

Basahin ang detalye!

Dizon said the inquiry will include a check with Bali airport authorities on whether it was true that they were the ones who told Cebu Pacific to deny boarding to the elderly passenger because he would not be allowed entry to the Indonesian island with his torn passport.

He also said the DOTr has summoned Cebu Pacific - along with other international carriers - to ensure that they strictly verify the condition of the passenger’s passport.

In an statement published earlier, the DOTr called on all airlines operating in the Philippines to ensure their staff do not abuse their authority when checking the validity and integrity of passengers’ passports.

In line with established protocols, airlines must coordinate with immigration authorities of the passenger’s destination country to verity if they will accept a passport that appears to be tampered or damaged.

In the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs has stated in published advisories that under the country’s laws, a passport is considered damaged for travel purposes if its physical condition is altered due to wear and tear, aging, negligence, or other factors that render it mutilated or defective.

For the passport to be deemed mutilated, its data page must have become unreadable or an information is missing.

This could be due to the passport chip being damaged or has become unreadable to the system, a page is torn out, the passport’s binding has unraveled, or the document is water-damaged, causing the visa stamps and printed information to run.

Nowhere is it stated in the advisory that a slight tear in the passport which does not make the information therein unreadable, considered damaged for travel purposes.

A passenger claims this tear in her passport appeared only after she handed it in for check-in

Dizon also said the investigation will look into allegations of deliberate tampering of passports by airline personnel, for whatever purpose it may serve them.

 “So they were told very, very clearly that they need to comply with that clear instruction, no way whatsoever to cause any harm to the documents or tamper with the documents of the passengers in the exercise of their function,” he said.

Dizon said the government agencies will look at CCTV footage and personal accounts of travellers to determine if the alleged deliberate tampering of passports did occur.

“Kasi kung meron tayong makitang gano'n and nahuli natin ang any airline personnel na may ginawa itong kalokohan na ganito, well, you know, sorry na lang, sanctions will be imposed on both the personnel and the airlines,” he said.

Among those who hinted at deliberate tampering by airport personnel was a female tourist bound for Hong Kong who said staff processing her travel tax payment pointed out to a tear in her passport, saying she and her husband may not be allowed to board their flight.

The passenger said she was shocked to see the small tear in the photo page of her passport as she had travelled just three days earlier, and she had checked their travel documents the night before, and was sure the tear was not there before she presented it to pay for travel tax.

Despite the warning, the passenger said she and her husband decided not to say anything about it when they checked in, and were relieved when staff at the counter made no mention about it, either.

 

3 Filipinos arrested for alleged human trafficking to Myanmar

 

DMW published the blurred images of the 3 suspects in the alleged trafficking of Filipinos 

Three Filipinos identified as having recruited a number of their compatriots to work in scam farms in Myanmar have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation’s airport investigation division.

Arrested on their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Apr 25 were Sarah Jane Santos Marquez, Jalrumax Manaois Turingan and Noel Bansag Rodriguez, who flew in with seven human trafficking victims who had been repatriated from Myanmar.

The three were identified by the victims as among those involved in their illegal recruitment.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

According to the victims, they were recruited on social media by individuals who asked to be called "Miss Anne", "Orange", "Carlo", and "Bryan" and offered them jobs as customer service representatives in Thailand with salaries ranging from US$800 to US$1,500 a month.

But after arriving in Thailand, they were immediately transported to Myawaddy, Myanmar, where they were forced to work as online scammers in what are known as “scam hubs.”

There, they realized that those who had recruited them online were also based there and were involved in the illegal operation.

Basahin ang detalye!

The three suspects were taken to the NBI detention facility while authorities continue their investigation into the syndicates behind the recruitment of Filipinos into the scam hubs.

The victims, on the other hand, were promised financial, psychosocial and reintegration assistance by the Department of Migrant Workers.

The DMW is calling on the other victims of Santos, Manaois and Bansag to reach out to them through private message on the official Facebook page of the DMW’s Migrant Protection Bureau at https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip to get help.

It is also warning Filipinos to be more discerning when offered jobs abroad, and to never  transact online to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and illegal recruited.

 

 

HK-bound Filipinas detained with ‘beshie’ recruiter

 

BI photo of the 2 women arrested as they tried to fly to HK on way to Cambodia

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration has announced the arrest of a suspected illegal recruiter along with two Filipinas he was trying to take to Hong Kong en route to Cambodia for supposed call center jobs.

Officers of the National Bureau of Investigation arrested the three on April 19 at terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after they tried to get past immigration while posing as friends on their way to an Easter holiday in Hong Kong.

The alleged agent named “Andy” told immigration officers that he was friends with the two, calling them “beshies”, and even presented numerous documents of their supposed local employment.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

However, immigration officers noted a number of inconsistencies in their statements and subjected them to further inquiries.

The three later admitted that they were actually bound for Cambodia to work as encoders and agents in a call center there. They said their fake documents were supplied by a contact whom they met on Facebook.

“Andy” admitted he did not know his two female companions, aged 34 and 31, and had tried to facilitate their departure to Cambodia by pretending to be friends with them.

Basahin ang detalye!

NBI agents determined it was another clear case of Filipinos being recruited for supposed call center jobs abroad, but would later be forced to work in scam hubs.

Andy was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking and illegal recruitment. He and the two women were referred to the inter-agency council against trafficking (IACAT) which is pursuing an investigation into the case.

IACAT said Andy is the 13^th person to be arrested on charges of human trafficking this year.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado hailed the arrest as part of the increasing efforts by the government to step up efforts against human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

 “We thank the IACAT and the NBI-IAID for their unwavering commitment in pursuing this case to the end,” said Viado in a statement.

“Their tireless efforts in building airtight cases against traffickers not only deliver justice for the victims, but also give meaning and purpose to the relentless work of our frontliners at the ports. Every case filed strengthens our resolve to protect our borders and safeguard vulnerable individuals from exploitation.”

 

Pinay jailed 1 year for lying to Immigration

 

Immigration Department

A Filipina has been jailed for 12 months after admitting that she lied to an Immigration officer when she renewed her employment visa as a domestic helper.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Crischalyn Alban, 43 years old, pleaded guilty Thursday (April 24) at Shatin Court for “making a false representation to an Immigration officer lawfully acting in the due execution of Part III of Immigration Ordinance.”

Basahin ang detalye!

The offense is punishable under section 42 (1) (a) of the Immigration Ordinance with a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail and $150,000 fine.

According to the police information filed with the court last April 8, Alban lied when she told an Immigration officer on Aug, 20 last year that she would work for a local resident as a domestic helper, and presenting an employment contract to this effect. 

The contract turned out to be fake, and was submitted to allow the defendant to remain in Hong Kong under a foreign domestic helper visa.

With the guilty plea teminating the case, Magistrate Jeffrey Sze cancelled the previously scheduled next hearing on May 2.