By Vir B. Lumicao
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| Velasquez pleaded guilty to the ill-treatment at West Kowloon court |
A Filipina helper has been sentenced to four months in jail
for ill-treating her 10-month-old male ward after her employer reneged on a
promise to let her go on holiday in the Philippines.
Joan F. Velasquez, 34, was ordered jailed by West Kowloon
Magistrate Ada Yim on Jul 2. The Filipina got a discounted sentence after pleading
guilty to the charge and for having
clear record.
She admitted swinging the baby fiercely for several seconds on
Feb 2 this year out of anger at her employer for taking back a promise to let
her go on a holiday.
Her lawyer said Velasquez, who was hired by Lai Shuk-fan in
December 2017, had booked her Feb 13 flight as early as last November in
anticipation of the promised vacation.
The offense was discovered when Lai reviewed the CCTV
recording at her house at The Bellagio
in Tsuen Wan two days after the incident.
The maid was seen swinging the baby from right to left and
up and down for several seconds in an apparent fit of anger. The baby was
cradled in her arm with his head unsupported and bent backward.
Lai immediately confronted Velasquez, who denied abusing the
child, saying she was merely playing with him.
The baby was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital
His examination showed no sign of wound or damage, and
x-rays showed the baby’s abdomen and chest, as well as head, sustained no
injury.
But a pathologist, Dr Foo Ka-chun, said the baby’s neck
muscles were very weak and could have sustained damage from the violent shaking
or swinging.
In mitigation, the defense lawyer said Velasquez, who has
two sons aged 10 and 2 and a daughter aged 8, had worked as domestic helper for
two years in Kuwait, and just over a year with Lai. She said her
client was remorseful.
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