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| The $198 theft resulted in $5,000 fine and criminal record for one of the accused |
Two Filipina teenagers were charged in Eastern Court Causeway Bay
But only one of the accused, L.K.S., a 19-year-old waitress,
appeared in court and pleaded guilty to the offense, after which she was fined
a hefty $5,000 by Magistrate Peter Yu.
Her co-accused and friend, M.D.R., a student who is also 19
years old, failed to appear, so the magistrate issued a warrant for her arrest,
and increased her $500 bail to $5,000.
The prosecution said the two Filipinas stole the jackets
from the GU Co Ltd outlet in Windsor House at around 6:30pm on Jan. 13.
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While L.K.S. held the jackets, M.D.R. went to the cashier
and bought a brown paper bag. L.K.S. then shielded her co-defendant with a
yellow jacket as she put them into the paper bag.
Moments later, the two left the shop without paying but were
intercepted by the guard. They were handed over to police, who took them to the
Wanchai Police Station.
During investigation, L.K.S. admitted that she committed the
offense “out of greed.”
In mitigation, solicitor Brian Littlewood said his client
pleaded guilty at the first instance, admitted the offense and had a clear
record. He said the stolen properties were recovered.
He also said the conviction blew the defendant’s chances of
studying in the United
States
L.K.S., whose parents and siblings were in court to offer
support, reportedly dropped out of school to work as a waitress earning $14,000
to help her family.
Littlewood gave the court a letter from L.K.S. begging to be
bound over, but the prosecution opposed the application. Defense then asked for
a fine.
