By Vir B. Lumicao
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| Eastern Court magistrate rejects bail application by the 2 Filipina maids |
A lawyer representing two Filipina helpers allegedly caught
manning pay-for-sex websites in Mid-Levels has said he will challenge a
video-recorded interview by the police of the defendant as they were conducted
in the absence of counsel.
The two, Joan E. Palpal-latoc, 40, and Jeanette V. Gallego,
47, reportedly admitted their roles in the illicit operation in the police
interviews.
Their lawyer made the statement as Eastern Magistrate
Veronica Heung rejected the bail application of the defendants, citing as
reasons their lack of local ties, the severity of the case against them, and the
possibility that they would dispose of evidence.
She made the ruling despite being told that the Philippine
Consulate was willing to provide shelter to the defendants if they were allowed
bail.
The two Filipinas are facing a charge each of living on the
earnings of a prostitute. They are due to appear in court again on Jul 13.
The prosecution opposed granting temporary freedom to the
two even though they raised their bail offer from $10,000 to $25,000
each.
The prosecutor reiterated that Palpal-latoc and Gallego operated
a number of dating websites operated by a company duly registered in Hong Kong , and owned by a certain Miss Wong, their
employer.
Wong and two others were arrested along with the two
Filipina helpers at the company’s registered address, a luxury flat on
Tregunter Path in Mid-Levels.
The prosecutor said decoy police officers posing as
customers found out that the two Filipinas were manning the online sites
that offered sex with foreign prostitutes in a call-center-like operation.
Palpal-latoc reportedly told police in the filmed interview that
she knew about the operation of the websites, the company’s operation and its
income from the online sex dealing. She said she received 0.005% from the net
earnings of the company.
The prosecutor said Gallego admitted in a separate interview
that she received $1,200 a month as her reward for taking part in the illicit operation, but
she was not a shareholder of the company.
The company, which the prosecution didn’t name, allegedly targeted
wealthy foreign tourists who logged on to the websites to transact business.
