By Vir B. Lumicao
A Filipina former domestic helper who went home in 2016
after borrowing $35,000 from a Hong Kong financing company without disclosing
that her work contract had been terminated, made a mistake of returning here as
a tourist and is now in detention.
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| Kowloon City Court building |
Ranie Lou Buena Cosa appeared at Kowloon City Court on Aug 6
to apply for bail, but the prosecution objected, saying she is a flight risk.
Buena Cosa was charged with “obtaining pecuniary advantage
by deception” after being arrested last month when she tried to re-enter Hong
Kong as a tourist.
Magistrate Woo Huey-fang rejected the bail application and
ordered Buena Cosa returned to custody. But he advised her that she can make
the same application with the Court of First Instance.
The defendant allegedly took out a loan of $35,000 from
Prime Credit on Apr 13, 2016, using her work contract as proof of employment.
The financing firm approved the loan, not knowing that the helper had been terminated
a few days and was due to fly to the Philippines shortly.
After Buena Cosa failed to pay her monthly installment, the
lending firm learned that she had fled to the Philippines, and reported the
case to the police.
Last month, Buena Cosa returned to Hong Kong to visit a
sister who also works in the city, but Immigration officers at the airport intercepted
her and turned her over to the police.
Buena Cosa will appear in court again on Aug 26.
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